STAND. COM. REP. NO.  540

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1381

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1381 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL LICENSING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to assist Hawaii's service men and women, and their spouses, when determining qualifications for an occupational license.  Specifically, this bill allows professional and vocational licensing authorities to apply military education, training, licensure examinations, or service toward the qualifications required to receive a license by endorsement or reciprocity when that license is sought by a:

 

     (1)  Nonresident military spouse; or

 

     (2)  Service member who has served in a combat zone after September 11, 2001, and who provides retirement, separation, or discharge documentation that indicates an honorable discharge or general (under honorable conditions) discharge from active duty.  

 

     The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and National Association for Uniformed Services Hawaii Chapter testified in support of this bill.  The Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Association of Public Accountants, Hawaii Dental Association, and a concerned individual testified in opposition to this measure.  The United States Department of Defense provided comments. 

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Placing language regarding the licensure of a nonresident military spouse in the appropriate section of the Hawaii Revised Statutes;

 

     (2)  Adding the requirement that a nonresident spouse of a military member must be a spouse of a military member who is a member in good standing in the active or a reserve component of any of the armed forces of the United States and has orders issued by the United States Department of Defense to be stationed in Hawaii for a duration of at least one year as a condition to licensure by endorsement or licensure by reciprocity;

 

     (3)  Deleting the requirement that a service member had to have served in a combat zone after September 11, 2001, in order for the professional and vocational licensing authorities to apply military education, training, licensure examinations, or service toward the qualifications required to receive a license by endorsement or reciprocity;

 

     (4)  Stipulating that a service member applying for licensure by endorsement or reciprocity must have been given an honorable discharge or general (under honorable conditions) discharge from active duty within two years of applying for licensure by endorsement or reciprocity;

 

     (5)  Specifying that the requirement that the professional and vocational licensing authorities consider an applicant's military education, training, licensure examinations, or service toward the qualifications required to receive a license by endorsement or reciprocity does not apply to the licensure of medical doctors, dentists, or certified public accountants;

 

     (6)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (7)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1381, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1381, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

K. MARK TAKAI, Chair