STAND. COM. REP. NO. 418

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 946

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 946 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY TO ADJUST PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL LICENSING FEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to update the existing authority of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adjust licensing fees, subject to the approval of the Governor, to include:

     (1)  Six licensing regulatory areas that are currently not referenced in section 92-28, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

     (2)  All future licensing regulatory areas specifically and statutorily assigned to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association.

     Your Committee finds that since 2007, six new licensing areas have been added to the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for regulation.  These new licensing areas include athletic trainers, behavior analysts, mixed martial arts, respiratory therapists, uniform athlete agents, and veterinary technicians.  By authorizing the Department to adjust licensing fees for these licensing areas and any future licensing regulatory areas assigned to the Department, the Department will be able to increase or decrease fees for all licensees across professional and vocational areas under its jurisdiction.  Your Committee notes that this measure merely updates the statutes to include the new and potential future licensing areas and does not establish new fees.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 946 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair