STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3378

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 570

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 570 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONTRACTORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to enhance the penalty for unlicensed contracting violations committed against the elderly, from $10,000 to $20,000.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Contractors License Board's Legislative Committee.

     Your Committee finds that the rise in elder abuse, such as theft and fraud, has prompted the increasing need to protect the elderly from business scams and impersonators.  Your Committee further finds that many victims of unlicensed contractors suffer in some way, from unrecoverable down payments to poor workmanship.  However, elderly victims in particular have fewer resources and options available to them.  Your Committee believes that this measure will enhance protections for elderly consumers and help uphold the integrity of the contractor profession.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 570, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair