Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2298 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strengthen the enforcement provisions in chapter 448E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, prohibiting unlicensed electrical and plumbing activities.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Board of Electricians and Plumbers, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1186. The Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Hawaii Chapter, the Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association of Hawaii, the Sheet Metal Contractors Association, and Hawaiian Telcom opposed the measure.

Your Committee finds that this measure reflects the efforts of a task force convened by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to review and strengthen current practices relating to enforcement of unlicensed electrical and plumbing activities. Your Committee further finds that the parties who testified for and against the measure have agreed to compromise language so that the measure may move forward for further consideration.

Your Committee has amended this measure to:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2298, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2298, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.