STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1375

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   S.B. No. 795

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 795, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BUILDING CODES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to protect users of buildings and facilities throughout the state by:

 

     (1)  Creating a State Building Code Council (Council) to:

 

          (a)  Establish a comprehensive state building code;

 

          (b)  Appoint a subcommittee to recommend any necessary or desirable amendments to the model building codes;

 

          (c)  Review and adopt, as appropriate, new model building codes; and

 

          (d)  Provide education, technical training, and administrative assistance to implement and enforce the state building code;

 

          and

 

     (2)  Appropriating funds for the operations of the Council.

 

     The State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, State Farm Insurance Companies, Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii, American Institute of Architects-Hawaii State Council, Coalition of Hawaii Engineering and Architectural Professionals, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Defense supported the intent of this measure.  The Disability and Communication Access Board supported this bill with amendments.  The Department of Accounting and General Services submitted comments.

 

     The counties currently adopt building codes on independent schedules, resulting in the simultaneous use of several archaic building codes in Hawaii.  These older code provisions may not include improvements to implement disaster-resistant building construction standards.  As a result, there is a lack of consistent building standards from county to county.  A coordinated process to bring the various building codes into compliance with updated standards will improve public safety and promote efficiency in the construction industry.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by replacing its entire contents with the provisions of H.B. No. 93, H.D. 2, which:

 

(1)  Creates a State Building Code Council, establishes a state building code and design standards, and appropriates funds in a manner similar to the provisions of this measure as received by your Committee; and

 

(2)  Takes effect on July 1, 2020.

 

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity and style.

 

     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. 795, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 795, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair