STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3123

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2523

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2523, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITY LINEMAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Beginning January 1, 2027, establish licensing requirements, including minimum standards and qualifications, for licensure as a journey worker electric utility lineman and expands the Board of Electricians and Plumbers to include members engaged in electric utility work; and

(2) Repeal an existing exception to the impending sunset of the limited exemption from electrician licensing requirements that was originally enacted by Act 65, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, and extended pursuant to Act 60, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, and Act 68, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Hawaii State Energy Office; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 1260; Plumbers and Fitters United Association, Local 675; and Hawaiian Electric.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 1186.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission, Board of Electricians and Plumbers, and Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative.

Your Committee finds that it is critical to protect the health and safety of the public and utility workers and improve and maintain Hawaii's electrical infrastructure. Your Committee further finds that these goals can be achieved though the development of a local workforce of properly qualified, trained, and licensed electric utility linemen. This measure will address the need for experienced and qualified linemen in the State who can perform certain complex maintenance and repair work affecting an electric utility.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective on July 1, 2027; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2523, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2523, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

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

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair