STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1275

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.C.R. No. 79

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 79 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A UNIFORM STATEWIDE BUILDING CODE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to study the feasibility of establishing a uniform statewide building code and establish a task force for this purpose.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this concurrent resolution from the Hawaii Association of Realtors and State Farm Insurance Companies. DBEDT offered comments.

Your Committee finds that building codes vary between each of the counties of Hawaii. Each county has traditionally been permitted to establish its own individual building code, many of which have existed for a decade. Updating these building codes to a code that is both uniform, up-to-date, and applicable to residential, commercial, and industrial buildings would make it possible for building owners, designers, contractors, and Hawaii code enforcers to apply one set of standards.

Concern was expressed that DBEDT may not be the appropriate department to conduct a feasibility study of establishing a uniform, statewide building code because DBEDT does not have expertise in building code issues. Concern was also expressed that the list of appointees for the task force did not include homeowner insurers.

In light of these concerns, your Committee has amended this concurrent resolution by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Accounting and General Services to conduct the study rather than DBEDT;

(2) Including on the task force a person, appointed by the Insurance Commissioner, who represents an insurer that writes at least 20 percent of the Hawaii homeowners insurance market;

(3) Including on the task force a person, appointed by the Insurance Commissioner, who represents an insurer that writes less than 20 percent of the Hawaii homeowners insurance market; and

(4) Appointing a representative from the statewide Hawaii Association of Realtors rather than the Honolulu Board of Realtors.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 79, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 79, H.D. 1.

 

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

 

____________________________

KENNETH HIRAKI, Chair