STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1559

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 865

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 865, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONTRACTORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect the public and promote worker safety by requiring electrical contractors and electronic systems contractors to possess a trade license to perform electrical work in Hawaii or an electrical engineering degree from a duly accredited college.

The Hawaii Electricians Market Enhancement Program Fund, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. and its subsidiaries, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Maui Electric Company, Limited, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1260, AFL-CIO, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1186 testified in support of this measure.  The Contractors License Board testified in opposition to this measure.  The General Contractors Association of Hawaii and Power Contracting LLC provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by including an exemption from trade license or electrical engineering degree requirements for pole and line contractors and high voltage electrical contractors.

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made 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 S.B. No. 865, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 865, S.D. 1, 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,

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair