STAND. COM. REP. NO.  693

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1339

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1339 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONTRACTOR LICENSING REQUIREMENTS DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY OR DISASTER,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure an adequate number of qualified contractors in Hawaii during a state of emergency or disaster duly declared by the Governor to assist in and expedite rebuilding efforts by authorizing the Contractors License Board to issue Emergency Contractor's Licenses to out-of-state contractors.

 

     The Department of Defense, Contractors License Board (Board), and State Farm Insurance Companies supported this bill.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

(1)  Calling for a determination by the Board that a shortage of a qualified workforce exists prior to issuing emergency contractor's licenses to qualified out-of-state contractors;

 

(2)  Requiring that an applicant for an emergency contractor's license provide:


     (A)  Proof of workers' compensation, property damage,     and liability insurance in an amount not less than $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 in the    aggregate;

 

(B)  A credit report; and

 

(C)  Proof of licensure as a contractor in another state with similar building code standards;

 

(3)  Clarifying that a contractor who is issued an emergency contractor's license is subject to requirements set by Hawaii's contractor laws under Chapter 444, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

 

(4)  Authorizing the Board to establish an emergency contractors recovery fund to assist in covering liability costs for injuries which are a result of work performed by a contractor licensed pursuant to this Act;

 

(5)  Authorizing the Board to collect fees from applicants for an emergency contractor's license; and

 

(6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1339, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1339, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair