STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2944

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2697

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 Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2697, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to revoke the licenses of architects who have been, or caused a government employee to be, convicted of a criminal offense involving the acceptance of a bribe.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects.

Your Committee finds that existing law does not require the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects to revoke the licenses of architects in the State who have been convicted of bribing a government employee. Your Committee believes that allowing architects convicted of bribery to continue to retain their licenses undermines public trust. This measure will ensure that architects convicted of bribery face appropriate consequences.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2697, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair