STAND. COM. REP. NO. 998

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1373

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1373, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Department 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.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Board of Physical Therapy, Board of Psychology, Hawaii Medical Board, Board of Dentistry, Board of Massage Therapy, Hawaii Board of Chiropractic, Hawaii Board of Optometry, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, Board of Nursing, Hawaii Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Honolulu Police Department, RAINN, and three individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Board of Neuropathic Medicine and Board of Acupuncture.

Your Committee 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 a registered sex offender. Due to the nature of these professions, which involve close physical contact, your Committee believes that any delayed action in revoking a license and preventing further practice by a registered sex offender places consumers at unnecessary risk. This measure will allow the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and certain licensing boards the ability 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 has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the revocation of license or denial of application to renew, restore, or reinstate a license is based on a conviction requiring registration as a sex offender; and

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

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair