STAND. COM. REP. NO.  524-14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1633

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1633 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the State Building Code Council by, among other things:

 

     (1)  Modifying the composition, quorum requirement, staffing requirements, and duties of the State Building Code Council;

 

     (2)  Amending the State Building Code, including by clarifying terminology, amending code requirements and adoption processes, and providing for staggering of code adoptions;

 

     (3)  Requiring the State Building Code Council to submit an annual written report to the Governor on its activities, including the codes and standards it establishes;

 

     (4)  Prohibiting the State Building Code Council from adopting provisions in the Hawaii State Building Codes that conflict with laws governing contractors; and

 

     (5)  Appropriating funds to the Department of Accounting and General Services for the State Building Code Council and staff to carry out their duties.

 

     The Department of Health; American Institute of Architects Hawaii State Council; U.S. Green Building Council, Hawaii Chapter; The Pacific Resource Partnership; and Subcontractors Association of Hawaii provided testimony in support of this measure.  The American Chemistry Council and Plumbers and Fitters United Association, Local 675 provided testimony in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Hawaii State Fire Council; Honolulu Fire Department; International Code Council; Hawaii Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust; General Contractors Association of Hawaii; and Building Industry Association of Hawaii provided comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Restoring the requirement that the State Building Code Council shall review and adopt, as appropriate, new building codes within 18 months of the official publication date;

 

     (2)  Requiring that the frequency of the adoption of any code or standard shall not exceed every three years;

 

     (3)  Changing the appropriation of $250,000 to an unspecified sum; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     Your Committee respectfully requests that the Committee on Finance insert an appropriation amount of $250,000.

 

     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 H.B. No. 1633, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1633, 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,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair