STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1126-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.C.R. No. 7

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 7 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE PROBABLE EFFECTS OF LICENSING AND REGULATING YOUTH SPORTS COACHES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct an analysis pursuant to section 26H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, of the probable effects of pending legislation for the licensing and regulation of youth sports coaches.

     Positive Coaching Alliance–Hawaii supported the intent of the measure.  The Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments on the measure.

     Your Committee recognizes that participation in youth sports contributes to moral development, teaches valuable social skills, and instills leadership qualities in young people.  Your Committee notes that research has shown that the quality of a child's sports experience often depends on the quality of the coaching staff.  Your Committee also notes that concerned community members, in the interest of safety, are pursuing the establishment of standards for and the regulation of people who accept the very important role of youth sports coach.

     Your Committee also finds that, pursuant to section 26H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, new regulatory measures being considered for enactment that, if enacted, would subject unregulated professions and vocations to licensing or other regulatory controls, are required to be referred to the Auditor for analysis.  Your Committee therefore finds that this measure is a proper mechanism to comply with section 26H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     Your Committee also believes that the Auditor's findings and recommendations pursuant to this measure should include analyses of whether licensing procedures for youth sports coaches should include an examination into whether an applicant for a youth sports coach license, or renewal of such a license, is a registered sex offender, and, if so, whether the applicant should be denied a license on that basis.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 7 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Legislative Management.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair