STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

 

RE:   H.B. No. 976

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 976 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONTRACTORS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to protect the public and promote worker safety by requiring electrical contractors, pole and line contractors, high voltage electrical contractors, and electronic systems contractors to possess a trade license or an electrical engineering degree from a duly accredited college to perform electrical work in Hawaii.

 

     The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1186, AFL-CIO; IBEW 1260, AFL-CIO; and Electrical Contractors Association of Hawaii supported this measure.  Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association and a concerned individual opposed this measure.  The Contractors License Board and General Contractors Association of Hawaii provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing provisions that would have exempted employees of a public utility or community antennae television company from the licensing requirements imposed by this measure; and

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 976, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 976, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair