§201M-8 - Waiver or reduction of penalties. - Hawaii Statutes

     §201M-8  Waiver or reduction of penalties.  (a)  Except where a penalty or fine is assessed pursuant to a program approved, authorized, or delegated under a federal law, any agency authorized to assess civil penalties or fines upon a small business shall waive or reduce any penalty or fine as allowed by federal or state law for a violation of any statute, ordinance, or rules by a small business under the following conditions:

     (1)  The small business corrects the violation within a minimum of thirty days after receipt of a notice of violation or citation; and

     (2)  The violation was unintentional or the result of excusable neglect; or

     (3)  The violation was the result of an excusable misunderstanding of an agency's interpretation of a rule.

     (b)  Subsection (a) shall not apply:

     (1)  When a small business fails to exercise good faith in complying with the statute or rules;

     (2)  When a violation involves wilful or criminal conduct;

     (3)  When a violation results in serious health and safety impacts;

     (4)  To violations of chapters 6E, 180, 180C, 181, 182, 183, 183C, 183D, 186, 187A, 188, 188F, 189, 190, 190D, 195, 195D, 195F, 205, 205A, 340A, 340E, 341, 342B, 342C, 342D, 342E, 342F, 342G, 342H, 342I, 342J, 342L, and 342P;

     (5)  To violations of sections 200-9(b) and (c), 200-24(4), 200-37, and 200-38; or

     (6)  To violations of administrative rules promulgated pursuant to section 200-4(6); except for rules pertaining to matters listed in section 200-4(6)(A), (B), (C), and (D).

     (c)  An agency may adopt rules to implement the requirements of this section. [L 1998, c 168, pt of §2, §5; am L 2002, c 202, §5; am L 2004, c 206, §1]