STAND. COM. REP. NO. 598________

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 790
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which
was referred H.B. No. 790 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISASTER RELIEF,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to require that new school
buildings planned, designed, constructed, and equipped:

     (1)  After July 2000, comply with hurricane resistant
          shelter criteria to be adopted by the adjutant general;
          and

     (2)  Before July 2000, comply to the maximum extent feasible
          with hurricane resistant shelter criteria established
          by the adjutant general on July 20, 1997.

     The Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) and
the State Department of Defense (DD), submitted testimony
supporting the intent of this measure and suggesting an
amendment.  The Department of Education testified in opposition.

     DAGS testified that the State Civil Defense Division's
Hurricane Emergency Sheltering Plan had determined that there was
a need for more hurricane resistant shelters statewide, but felt
that the sheltering requirements should only be imposed on

 
 
 
 
 
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                                 Page 2

 
buildings that serve as shelters, such as cafeterias, gyms, and
auditoriums.  DD proposed the bill be amended to give the State
and counties discretion to designate the new buildings that would
be required to comply with shelter criteria.

     Your Committee is concerned for the safety of citizens in
the event that a catastrophic hurricane returns to the islands,
particularly those persons who live in those areas of our State
where school buildings do not comply with hurricane shelter
resistance criteria, and no shelter is readily available.  In
addition, your Committee is aware that the cost of building
structures to comply with hurricane resistance standards is
significantly less than the cost of retrofitting buildings that
are not in compliance.  Upon consideration of the bill and
testimony submitted, your Committee has amended this measure in
accordance with the DD's testimony.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 790, as amended herein, and recommends that
it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached
hereto as H.B. No. 790, H.D. 1.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair