Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 766, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to facilitate license restoration for persons serving in the military during a state or national crisis who hold professional and vocational licenses in the State.

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that, according to a survey by the National Governors Association, one of the challenges facing regular, National Guard, and reserve military members is maintaining a state professional or vocational license in good standing while deployed on active duty. The survey further reports that twenty-four states have made special accommodations for the license renewals of these military members.

This measure proposes to make similar accommodations by relaxing license restoration requirements for members of the armed forces, National Guard, and reserves whose professional and vocational licenses expire while the members are on active duty deployment during a state or national crisis, or within four months of being discharged or released therefrom. Under this measure, restoration shall be permitted simply upon payment of the renewal fee within one hundred twenty days of being discharged or released from active duty deployment, unless licensure is also subject to verification of the licensee's financial integrity. Otherwise, the license shall be reinstated without the need to pay a penalty, apply as a new applicant, or comply with continuing education requirements. Your Committee finds this measure will help to support the efforts of Hawaii's men and women in uniform who risk their lives to protect our State and nation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical amendments for the purposes of style and clarity.

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. 766, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 766, S.D. 2.