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. 594, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the assessment of fees for the certification of insurance continuing education providers and courses.

The Insurance Commissioner, Hawaii Independent Insurance Agents Association, and Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors testified in support of this measure.

This measure authorizes the Insurance Division and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to assess fees for the initial certification of insurance continuing education providers and courses, and for the provision of subsequent related services, respectively. Your Committee finds that the collection of fees will enable the Division to offset the costs of administering the continuing education requirement for insurance licensees.

Additionally, this measure requires continuing education providers to submit course completion information to the Division by electronic means within forty-five days after a course has ended or a competency examination has been scored.

Your Committee further finds that this requirement will facilitate the timely processing of license renewals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by replacing its contents with the language of S.B. No. 1070, S.D. 1, which is substantively similar to this measure, but reflects preferred drafting 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. 594, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 594, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.