CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 29

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1373

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1373, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSURE ACTIONS AGAINST SEX OFFENDERS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and certain licensing boards to automatically revoke and deny the issuance, renewal, restoration, or reinstatement of a professional license, registration, certification, or permit to a person who is a registered sex offender;

(2) Establish conditions for the disciplinary action; and

(3) Ensure consumer protection by requiring any final order of discipline taken to be public record.

Your Committee on Conference finds that existing law does not facilitate the timely revocation or denial of a renewal, restoration, or reinstatement of a license for certain professions when the licensee is convicted of an offense requiring registration as a sex offender. Given the nature of these licensed professions, many of which involve close physical contact with members of the public, any delayed action in revoking a license to prevent further practice by a registered sex offender places consumers at unnecessary risk. This measure enables the flexibility needed to take a more expeditious approach against registered sex offenders who are in certain professions that involve close physical contact with consumers and require a professional license to operate.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Reverting back to the S.D. 2 version of this measure, which authorizes, rather than requires, the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and certain licensing boards to automatically revoke and refuse to renew, restore, or reinstate the professional licenses of registered sex offenders;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2025; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1373, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1373, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ CORY CHUN Co-Chair	____________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA Chair
____________________________ AMY A. PERRUSO Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Co-Chair