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 S.B. No. 2895, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to require pest control operators to maintain continuous workers' compensation and liability insurance coverage. This measure:

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Board and the Hawaii Pest Control Association.

Your Committee finds that failure to maintain workers' compensation and liability insurance coverage should result in the automatic forfeiture of the pest control operator's license and that the onus to notify the Board of the termination or cancellation of any insurance coverage should be placed upon the pest control operator.

Your Committee recognizes that it is currently difficult to obtain liability insurance. Therefore, in addition to authorizing the Board to properly regulate and enforce requirements within the industry, it is necessary to provide procedures for the restoration of a forfeited license that will protect a pest control operator's rights. Your Committee further finds that making the Board the repository for pest control business' proof of liability and workers' compensation insurance coverage will assist the Board in controlling the industry and protecting workers and consumers.

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 S.B. No. 2895, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.