Bill Text: HI HR47 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Requesting The Auditor To Conduct A Feasibility Study For The Creation Of A Structural Licensing Board.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-13 - Referred to IAC, CPC, referral sheet 29 [HR47 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2017-HR47-Introduced.html

---

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	47
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE CREATION OF A STRUCTURAL LICENSING BOARD.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that construction industry review boards, such as the Contractors License Board (CLB), are necessary to protect the welfare and safety of the general public; and

 

     WHEREAS, the CLB has since created more than 80 subcontractor license subcategories and is in charge of administering and issuing those construction licenses; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature has also established a special Board of Electricians and Plumbers, to reduce the amount of license requests the CLB has to review and administer; and

    

WHEREAS, the CLB is currently not set up to specifically address the specialized licensing needs and concerns that involve constructing specialized structures; and

 

WHEREAS, a structural engineer must ensure that the subcontractors and workers assigned to install and erect specialized structures have sufficient knowledge and experience to ensure a safe work environment for the installation and construction using structural steel; and

 

     WHEREAS, there are at least eight license classifications under the CLB, namely, C-6 carpentry framing, C-31 masonry, C-32 ornamental, guardrail, and fencing, C-35 pile driving, pile and caisson drilling, and foundation, C-38 post tensioning, C-41 reinforcing steel, C-48 structural steel, and C-56 welding,

which should be regulated under a new specialized Structural Licensing Board that is responsive to the needs of this specialized type of work; and

     WHEREAS, it is unreasonable to expect the CLB to be knowledgeable in the specific requirements of installing and constructing specialized structures; and

    

     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that the public's health, safety, and welfare may be unduly put at risk without a Structural Licensing Board; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, that the Auditor is requested to

conduct a feasibility study for the creation of a Structural Licensing Board; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to include the following in its study:

 

     (1)  A determination on the feasibility of creating a Structural Licensing Board;

 

     (2)  An estimate of the number of individuals who may be granted a license by the proposed Structural Licensing Board;

 

     (3)  The amount of time currently spent on reviewing specialized license applicants and whether the proposed Structural Licensing Board will reduce the amount of time spent on reviewing and processing those applicants;

      

     (4)  An estimate of the cost for the creation of a Structural Licensing Board;

 

     (5)  Suggested amendments or modifications to the practice of issuing C-6 carpentry framing, C-31 masonry, C-32 ornamental, guardrail, and fencing, C-35 pile driving, pile and caisson drilling, and foundation, C-38 post tensioning, C-41 reinforcing steel, C-48 structural steel, and C-56 welding licenses;

     (6)  A review of:

         

          (A)  Construction licensing laws in other states, including laws regulating structural licensing boards;

 

          (B)  Best practices in the State's construction industry; and

 

          (C)  Current regulations for specialized structural construction workers in the State; and

 

     (7)  A brief description of the process the Auditor used in making findings and recommendations in the feasibility study; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor shall consult with all relevant stakeholders, including relevant construction companies and unions, the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council, the Contractors License Board, the Board of Electricians and Plumbers, the Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii, and contractors to determine the necessity of the creation of a Structural Licensing Board; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit a final report on the feasibility study, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor and Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

Feasibility Study for the Creation of a Structural Licensing Board