STAND. COM. REP. NO.  425-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 2304

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2304 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LICENSURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to address concerns regarding unlicensed activities on construction job sites.  This bill ensures the presence of licensed workers by requiring that:

     (1)  Licensed electrical, plumbing, and elevator mechanic workers shall wear their licenses at the job site; and

     (2)  At least half of all individuals performing elevator mechanic work on the job site shall be licensed.

     The Hawaii State AFL-CIO, Hawaii Electricians Training Fund, and Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' (DCCA), Elevator Mechanics Licensing Board, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 1186, and United Association of Plumbers and Fitters of Hawaii, Local 675 also supported this measure with amendments.  DCCA's Regulated Industries Complaints Office and Contractors License Board offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Requiring that licenses displayed at the job site shall be identification issued by DCCA;

     (2)  Specifying that individuals who do not display their licenses shall be counted as being unlicensed for purposes of fulfilling the requirement that at least half of all workers performing electrical, plumbing, or elevator mechanic work at the job site be licensed; and

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

     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. 2304, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2304, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair