STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1128

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 295

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 295, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL LICENSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to grant an active duty member of the National Guard, serving outside the State, a 90-day grace period after deactivation to file any required license renewal application.

Testimony in favor of the measure was submitted by the State Department of Defense, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii National Guard Association, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that members of the national guard are frequently called upon to serve outside the State which often restricts their ability to file timely license renewals. Specifically, with the current state of world events, those who are called to active duty are leaving the State for extended periods with greater regularity. Many are then forced to face serious financial consequences while others suffer from job loss or are devastated by business failures. This measure will provide some relief to those who face these situations and may also provide an incentive to ensure retention of military personnel.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by replacing it with the language from S.B. 766, S.D. 1. Accordingly, the amendments clearly define deployment for state or national crisis and allows 120 days for the military member to submit a renewal application.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 295, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 295, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education and Military Affairs,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair