Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2972, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to improve consumer and electrician safety by requiring all applicants for the various electrician license examinations to successfully complete an academic or apprenticeship program covering the principles of electrical theory and the requirements of the National Electric Code (NEC).

The Electrical Contractor's Association of Hawaii and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. The Board of Electricians and Plumbers, Plumbers and Fitters Local 675, Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association of Hawaii, Alaka'i Mechanical Corporation, Hawaii Solar Energy Association, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Hawaii Chapter, Continental Mechanical of the Pacific, Island Controls, Inc., Kailua Electric Service, Nova Group, Inc., Oahu Sales, Inc., Siu's Electric Corp., and a number of concerned individuals opposed this bill.

Your Committee finds that the educational requirements added by this bill would be in addition to the experience requirements currently in the law. The bill addresses the concern that on-the-job experience may not adequately transfer the general knowledge of electric theory and the requirements under the electric code that are needed to ensure consumer and electrician safety.

Many concerns were voiced by plumbers and other industries other than the electrician industry that this bill would prevent them from continuing to perform low voltage wiring work in connection with services such as elevator or air conditioning work. Your Committee finds that nothing in this licensing bill would prevent these industries from continuing their current practices.

However, concerns still remain that this measure would adversely affect a small group of individuals in "mom and pop" businesses that employ electricians, by making it difficult for their current apprentices to obtain electrician's licenses.

To encourage further discussion, your Committee has amended the bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2972, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2972, H.D. 2, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.