Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1824 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to ensure consumer protection by requiring licensed plumbers to provide evidence that they possess competency related to current updates of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).

This bill proposes that prior to each license renewal, plumbing licensees shall:

This bill also proposes that effective July 1, 2007, plumbers licenses, like electricians licenses, are to be renewed every three years, rather than being renewed on each even-numbered year.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Board of Electricians and Plumbers, Associated Builders and Contractors, and Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Association of Hawaii. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs opposed this measure.

Your Committee heard concerns about the necessity for continuing education for plumbers, the cost to plumbers, and the availability of the continuing education courses as required by this bill. However your Committee finds that a similar continuing education requirement was established for licensed electricians in 1994, and has been successful in keeping electricians up-to-date on provisions of the National Electrical Code. Your Committee further finds that the plumbing industry realizes that ongoing revisions of the Uniform Plumbing Code will be better implemented if plumbers have opportunities for continuing education.

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. 1824 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.