STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1364

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 295

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 295, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, 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 facilitate the professional and vocational license restoration process for members of the military who have been deployed during a state or national crisis.

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Defense, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and three individuals testified in support of this measure.

This measure facilitates the license restoration process for members of the armed forces, National Guard, and reserves whose professional and vocational licenses expire while the members are on active duty deployment during a state or national crisis, or within four months of being discharged or released therefrom.

Under this measure, license restoration shall be permitted within one hundred twenty days of a member's discharge or release from active duty deployment upon the submission of an application for restoration, copies of activation and discharge orders, and payment of the renewal fee, unless licensure is also subject to verification of the licensee's financial integrity or compliance with a federal requirement; in the latter case, the appropriate documentation must also be provided. Otherwise, the license shall be reinstated without the licensee being required to pay a penalty, apply as a new applicant, or comply with continuing education requirements. Your Committee finds that this measure will help to support the efforts of Hawaii's men and women in uniform who risk their lives to protect our State and nation.

Your Committee has amended this measure:

(1) To allow a member of the National Guard whose law license will expire while the member is on active federal service outside of the State to renew the law license within ninety days of the member's discharge or release from active federal service if the member has notified the Hawaii Supreme Court of the activation at least thirty days prior to the deadline for license renewal; and

(2) To take effect on July 1, 2050.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 295, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 295, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair