STAND. COM. REP. NO.  177-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2257

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2257 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the licensing board to assist military spouses by:

(1)  Allowing applicants to demonstrate competency in lieu of work experience requirements; and

(2)  Establishing procedures to expedite the issuance of licenses, certifications, or permits.  

The Department of Defense State Liaison Office, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and Oahu Veterans Council testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division testified in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Authorizing, rather than requiring, professional and vocational licensing boards to accept demonstrated competency in lieu of work experience requirements in issuing a license and to expedite the issuance of such a license;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2030; 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 Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2257, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2257, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair