STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1454

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1334

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1334, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to increase or decrease the statutorily assessed fees of certain professions and occupations licensed or regulated by the Department in an expeditious manner.

     Your Committee received comments in support of the measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Occupational Therapy Association of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is authorized under section 92-28, Hawaii Revised Statutes (state service fees), to increase or decrease on an expedited basis, a variety of fees related to professional and vocational licensing and some other programs for the purpose of maintaining a reasonable relation between the revenues from the fees and the value of service provided.  This measure adds approximately two-dozen programs to that list.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will enable the Department to maintain a reasonable relation between the revenues derived from the fees and the cost of services rendered, comparability among fees imposed by the State, and other purposes deemed necessary and reasonable.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1334, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair