1. Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Thank you. I’m Catherine Awakuni Colón and I’m the Director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

2. Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA)
Promotes a strong and healthy business environment by upholding fairness and public confidence in the marketplace, and by increasing knowledge and opportunity for our businesses and citizens.
DCCA is a state agency that helps businesses and individual consumers.
Our goal is to promote a strong and healthy business environment while protecting the community from unfair and deceptive business practices.

3. DCCA is comprised of 12 divisions, with 9 public facing divisions
Business Registration Division
Cable Television Division
Division of Consumer Advocacy
Division of Financial Institutions
Insurance Division
Office of Administrative Hearings
Office of Consumer Protection
Professional and Vocational Licensing Division
Regulated Industries Complaints Office
Note that the Public Utilities Commission is now administratively attached to DCCA

4. Business Registration Division
Oversees Business Registration Division and Securities
Business Registration
Maintains administrative business registry through which BREG registers marks, names, and business entities
Runs the Business Action Centers
Securities
Comprised of three branches: Compliance, Enforcement, and Investor Education
Examines securities firms, receives complaints, investigates and prosecutes securities violations
In the news: Recent cease and desist order

5. Cable Television Division
Issues franchises to Hawaii cable companies and monitors the quality of service that subscribers receive
Regulates the rates for basic tier of service in some franchise areas, handles complaints about cable television matters
Is responsible to promote ubiquitous access to high speed broadband at affordable rates throughout the state
In the news: Review of transfer of Oceanic Time Warner Cable’s franchises to Charter Communications

6. Division of Consumer Advocacy
Protects and represents the interests of consumers before the Public Utilities Commission and other federal agencies with regulatory jurisdiction over public utility services, including electricity, telecommunications, pipeline gas, private water and wastewater, and interisland water transportation
Assists and represents customers as a whole rather than single customers or a select group of customers.
In the news: NextEra – HECO merger

7. Division of Financial Institution
Ensures the safety and soundness of state-chartered and state-licensed financial institutions
Ensures regulatory compliance by state-licensed financial institutions, escrow depositories, money transmitters, mortgage servicers, and mortgage loan originators.
Administers applicable statutes and rules to protect the rights and funds of depositors, borrowers, consumers, and other members of the public.

8. Insurance Division
Oversees the state’s insurance industry (handling all lines of insurance)
Issues licenses; examines the financial condition of Hawaii-based companies; reviews rate and policy filings; investigates insurance related companies
The captive insurance branch specializes in the licensure, regulation, and administration of Hawaii-based captive insurance companies, as well as, the prudent development of the state’s captive insurance industry
In the news: Connector transition

9. Office of Administrative Hearings
Conducts hearings and issues recommended decisions for cases originating at DCCA
OAH also hears:
Medical inquiries (Medical Inquiry and Conciliation Panel)
Tort claims against design professionals
Disputes arising from the State’s procurement laws
Due process hearings involving Individuals with Disabilities Act and the Department of Education
Contested case hearings involving the Employee’s Retirement System of the State
Disputes among manufacturers, distributors, or dealers of motor vehicles

10. Office of Consumer Protection
Investigates consumer complaints in unfair or deceptive trade practices in advertising, refunds, motor vehicle rentals, door-to-door sales and credit practices
Provides consumer education and promotes awareness of important consumer protection issues
Responsible for the Landlord Tenant code and provides assistance to both landlords and tenants

11. Professional and Vocational Licensing
Oversees the regulatory activities of 25 boards and 24 other licensing programs
Licenses approximately 140,000 licensees
Real Estate Branch – located within PVL – is responsible for Real Estate and Condominium education, real estate licensing, and condominium project registration

12. Regulated Industries Complaints Office
Investigates and prosecutes complaints against professionals licensed by the PVL and protects the public from unlicensed activities
Administers the State Certified Arbitration Program for “lemon” vehicles
Staffs the Consumer Resource Center (CRC)
The CRC provides information on a business’s complaint history and allows you to file complaints against a business

13. Public Utilities Commission
Administratively attached to DCCA, effective 7/1/15
Regulates all franchised or certificated public utility companies operating in the state
Approves the rates, tariffs, charges, and fees of public utilities
Determines the allowable rate of earnings in establishing rates
Issues guidelines concerning the general management of franchised or certificated utility companies

14. Immediate Challenges
Antiquated databases in Professional and Vocational Licensing Division (ALIAS) and Regulated Complaints Office (Complaints Management System) need immediate update
Increase in fees for Professional and Vocational Licensing and Regulated Industries Complaints Office needed

15. Plans for Continued Improvement
Expand online filing abilities across the department
Increase transparency through publication of information online and through greater sharing of information
Improve customer service
Look for greater efficiencies across the department by examining existing work “silos”

16. Contact Us Phone Email Web
Contact information in
the DCCA Directory of
Services or call
587-DCCA
Web

17. Social Media Facebook Twitter YouTube
Twitter
YouTube

18. Mahalo!
DCCA is here to help you be consumer wise! Thank you for having me here today