STAND. COM. REP. NO.  647

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 937

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 937 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING TRADES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure that electricians have a thorough and adequate knowledge of electricity by specifying increased educational requirements for electricians.

     The American Society of Safety Engineers Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii Electricians Training Fund, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and an individual testified in support of this bill.  Plumbers and Fitters Union Local 675, International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 1126, Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Association of Hawaii, and an individual testified in opposition to this bill.  The Board of Electricians and Plumbers, and MGM Electrical Services, Inc. submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that electrical work is a complex trade requiring many years of education and training.  A well educated and trained electrician not only protects the electrician from injury, but also the general public from hazards associated with improper installation of electrical wiring.

     While, your Committee does understand concerns raised by plumbers that this measure may have the unintended consequence of affecting their trade, the safety issues this measure addresses deserve further consideration.  Your Committee respectfully requests that the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce examine the issues affecting the plumbing trades further as this bill makes its way through the legislative process.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Deleting provisions affecting the requirements                 pertaining to Journey Worker Plumber and Master Plumber;      and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity,      consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 937, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 937, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair