STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1382

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 438

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 438 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 amend the time frame and criteria for deeming an application as abandoned under the Professional and Vocational Licensing Act.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Board of Nursing.

Your Committee finds that the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is experiencing a high backlog of certain health care license applications. The backlog is mainly technical in nature, existing primarily as a result of the fact that since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many traveling health care professionals initiated applications, but did not move forward with completing the application due to the temporary nature of their employment under emergency proclamations. The applications are essentially abandoned, but existing law keeps an application open for two years. This measure would reduce the time frame an application is considered open from two years to one year and require the timely submission of relevant supporting documentation and the timely completion of the required examination.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 438 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair