Hawaii House Bill HB1956

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/26/22
• Refer: 1/28/22

Caption

Relating To Contractors.

Impact

The proposed changes under HB1956 will specifically affect statutory interpretations concerning the activities permissible under specialty contractor licenses. By allowing some flexibility for specialty contractors to engage in incidental work across trades, the bill is designed to facilitate more comprehensive project execution and may potentially increase efficiency in the construction process. This shift could lead to economic benefits for specialty contractors who often find themselves needing to adapt to various project demands.

Summary

House Bill 1956 aims to amend Hawaii Revised Statutes related to contractors by defining what constitutes 'incidental and supplemental work' for specialty contractors. Specifically, the bill allows specialty contractors to perform work in multiple trades as long as that work is incidental to a project and does not exceed five percent of their total work on said project. This clarification is intended to broaden the scope of work that specialty contractors can undertake without violating the licensing requirements set forth by the state.

Contention

While proponents of HB1956 see it as a beneficial adjustment that helps specialty contractors operate more effectively, critics may raise concerns about the implications for quality control and safety standards within the construction industry. There is a potential fear that allowing more overlap between trades could result in substandard work or misallocation of responsibilities among workers. Additionally, some may argue about the enforcement of the five percent limit and how it would be monitored.