STAND. COM. REP. NO. 653-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 1880

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Intrastate Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1880, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to extend the sunset date of the limited exemption from licensing requirements for electrical contractors who are retained by a public utility within the State to perform high voltage (600 volts or higher) electrical work and who are deemed qualified by the electric utility.

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Board of Electricians and Plumbers, The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, POWER Contracting LLC, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., and Maui Electric Company, Ltd. testified in support of this measure. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1186 provided comments.

Your Committee finds that there still appears to be an unmet need for individuals qualified to perform high-voltage electrical work and has amended this measure to clarify and emphasize the need to extend the limited exemption. Your Committee respectfully requests that the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce explore ways to document the efforts to strengthen Hawaii's local workforce in this trade profession.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Intrastate Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1880, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1880, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Intrastate Commerce,

____________________________

TAKASHI OHNO, Chair