STAND. COM. REP. NO.  595-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1606

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1606 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to amend the process for temporary licensure for military spouses in the State by:

 

     (1)  Specifying the types of verifying documentation required for a military spouse to receive license by endorsement, license by reciprocity, or temporary license;

 

     (2)  Requiring the applicant to submit verifying documentation within ninety days of the application for licensure by endorsement or by reciprocity;

 

     (3)  Removing supervision requirements for military spouses as they relate to performance of services by military spouses under a temporary license;

 

     (4)  Removing the requirement that the applicant hold a license that is substantially equivalent to or exceeds the licensing requirements of the State;

 

     (5)  Requiring the issuance of the license by endorsement, license by reciprocity, or temporary license to a military spouse within thirty days of the application and supporting verifying documents; and

 

     (6)  Requiring each licensing board to adopt and publish rules on their respective websites by August 1, 2020, to administer the law relating to licensure by endorsement or licensure by reciprocity for military spouses.

 

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from United States Army Garrison Hawaii, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and four individuals.  Your Committee received comments from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii National Guard, Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters, Land Pacific Research Partnership.

 

Your Committee finds that this measure is intended to streamline the licensing process for military spouses to enable them to expand and continue their professions while in the State and providing opportunities for them to contribute to Hawaii's workforce.

 

Among other concerns presented in the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' testimony, your Committee notes the Department's concern regarding the issuance of a temporary license to a military spouse within thirty days despite the requirement that supporting documentation for issuance of a license be provided within ninety days of the application.  Your Committee is also unsure what the appropriate timeframe is to allow issuance of a temporary license to military spouses.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Excluding construction contracting services from the performance of services permitted under any license or temporary license issued to a military spouse;

 

     (2)  Changing the ninety-day and thirty-day timeframes to unspecified timeframes;

 

     (3)  Requiring that review or issuance of a license shall commence only upon receipt by the licensing authority of all required verifying documents; as specified in this measure;

 

     (4)  Changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     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. 1606, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1606, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair