Bill Text: HI SB1293 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Contractors; Electrical Work; Licensing Requirements

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-04-25 - Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-13 5:30PM in conference room 016. [SB1293 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-SB1293-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 550

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1293

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 1293 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONTRACTORS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require any person applying for a license as an electrical contractor, pole and line contractor, high voltage electrical contractor, or electronic systems contractor to possess a trade license to perform electrical work in the State.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Electrical Contractors Association of Hawaii; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 1186; Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO; and D. Suehiro Electric, Inc.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Building Industry Association of Hawaii; and Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Contractors License Board and Hawaiian Telecom.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure fixes a loophole in the existing electrical contractor licensing law.  For instance, electrical contractors in Hawaii must pass a state-required test to manage an electrical contracting company and the requirements to receive an electrical contracting license to run a business are different from the requirements to receive a journey worker electrician license to perform or supervise the electrical field work.  Proper supervision and technical decisions of electrical work comes with proper training and competency in the electrical trade that is obtained through the electrician's licensing process.

 

     Your Committee further finds that electrical work may pose hazards related to public and worker safety.  This measure ensures that individuals applying to be licensed as electrical contractors, pole and line contractors, high voltage electrical contractors, or electronic systems contractors will be required to demonstrate the appropriate electrical worker knowledge and training.

 

     Your Committee additionally finds that public utilities are granted an exemption from chapter 448E, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  For consistency, your Committee concludes that a similar exemption from the licensing requirements of this measure is needed.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by providing that all employees of a public utility within the State under a franchise or charter granted by the State which is regulated by the Public Utilities Commission and community antennae television company, while so employed, shall be exempt from the licensing requirements proposed by this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1293, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1293, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

 

		____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair