STAND. COM. REP. NO. 703

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 791
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which
was referred H.B. No. 791 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REAL ESTATE BROKERS AND
     SALESPERSONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to:

     (1)  Change the requirement for continuing education of real
          estate brokers and salespersons from ten hours every
          two years to five hours each year; and

     (2)  Give the Real Estate Commission greater authority over
          continuing education courses.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the
Hawaii Association of Realtors.  Testimony supporting portions of
the measure but requesting amendments was submitted by the Real
Estate Commission.

     Your Committee finds that the Real Estate Commission should
be given additional authority over continuing education courses.
Further, your Committee believes that the responsibilities of
real estate brokers should be codified.

     At the same time, your Committee recognizes that additional
study over the issues that affect both consumers and licensees
with respect to the sale of real estate would be desirable.

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 703
                                 Page 2

 
     For these reasons, your Committee has amended the measure
by:

     (1)  Adding a purpose clause to the measure;
     
     (2)  Codifying the responsibilities of principal brokers;

     (3)  Clarifying and expanding the authority of the Real
          Estate Commission over continuing education courses,
          providers, and instructors and setting appropriate
          standards to be followed;

     (4)  Adding language to ensure that continuing education is
          provided based upon current information, laws, and
          rules;

     (5)  Eliminating the proposed change with respect to the
          hours of instruction; and

     (6)  Requiring the Department of Commerce and Consumer
          Affairs, in consultation with the Hawaii Association of
          Realtors, to initiate a work study group to discuss
          continuing education and administration issues and
          report back to the next Legislature.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 791, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No.
791, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Consumer
                                   Protection and Commerce,



                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair