Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 589, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make the laws relating to architect licensure consistent with administrative rule requirements and current practice.

The Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects (Board), American Institute of Architects, and Dean of the University of Hawai School of Architecture submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Currently, the law regarding architect licensure by endorsement does not explicitly establish educational and experiential requirements for licensure, and only provisionally requires that architects licensed in another jurisdiction pass this State's licensing examination. However, the Board has interpreted the law to require that applicants for licensure by endorsement meet all of the above requirements and have adopted administrative rules consistent with this interpretation.

This measure clarifies the licensure requirements for architects licensed in another jurisdiction and makes them consistent with the licensing requirements generally applicable to all applicants, by explicitly requiring that persons seeking licensure by endorsement meet the requirements of chapter 464, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and the related administrative rules. This measure also consolidates the licensure qualification provisions relating to educational degree requirements and includes a reference to a "higher degree in architecture" in recognition of the University of Hawaii's doctorate degree in architecture.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 589, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 589, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.