HCR58

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	58
TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE ON SUPPLY OF CONTRACTORS AND TRADESMEN IN TIMES OF NATURAL DISASTER TO STUDY THE EXPEDITED LICENSING OR LICENSING EXEMPTIONS FOR CONTRACTORS AND TRADESMEN AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PRICE CONTROLS ON BUILDING MATERIALS.

WHEREAS, the devastating effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have elevated the State of Hawaii’s concerns over disaster preparedness; and

WHEREAS, the efforts to reconstruct and repair damaged homes and businesses following a natural disaster are critical to the re-establishment of normalcy in our community; and

WHEREAS, the gulf hurricanes have shown that there may not be sufficient numbers of licensed contractors and tradesmen following a natural disaster; and

WHEREAS, it is important that the State address the possibility that there may not be enough licensed tradesmen and contractors to meet the needs of Hawaii’s residents in the event of a natural disaster; and

WHEREAS, the emergency licensing of such professionals requires discussion; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the Senate concurring, that the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is requested to establish a task force on supply of contractors and tradesmen in times of natural disaster, to study, in the event of a natural disaster in Hawaii, the advisability and feasibility of:

(1) Expedited licensure, temporary licensure, or special circumstances licensure of contractors and tradesmen;

(2) Exemption from licensure of contractors and tradesmen; and

(3) Establishment of price controls on building materials and supplies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force be composed of fifteen members, as follows:

(1) The Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, or designee, to serve as chair; and

(2) The Comptroller, or designee, to serve as co-chair;

(3) The Vice Director of Civil Defense, or designee;

(4) The Executive Officer of the State Contractors License Board;

(5) The Executive Officer of the Board of Electricians and Plumbers;

(6) The Executive Officer of the Elevator Mechanics Licensing Board;

(7) One representative of an insurer that writes at least twenty per cent of the Hawaii homeowners insurance market, to be selected by the Insurance Commissioner;

(8) One representative of an insurer that writes less than twenty per cent of the Hawaii homeowners insurance market, to be selected by the Insurance Commissioner;

(9) One representative of the Property and Casualty Insurance Association of America;

(10) The Complaints and Enforcement Officer of the Regulated Industries Complaints Office, or designee;

(11) The Division Administrator of the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, or designee;

(12) The Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection, or designee;

(13) Three representatives of construction materials supply houses, appointed by the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force members serve without compensation and without reimbursement for expenses; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is requested to submit a report of findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Comptroller, the Vice Director of Civil Defense, the Executive Officer of the State Contractors License Board, the Executive Officer of the Board of Electricians and Plumbers, the Executive Officer of the Elevator Mechanics Licensing Board, the Insurance Commissioner, the Property and Casualty Insurance Association of America, the Complaints and Enforcement Officer of the Regulated Industries Complaints Office, the Division Administrator of the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection, and the Governor.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Task Force; Supply of Contractors/Tradesmen; Natural Disaster