THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1297

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO AWARDED FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  In 2007, the state building code council was created to review and adopt a comprehensive suite of the latest editions of nationally recognized building codes and standards.  Updating building codes in a timely manner is necessary to ensure compliance with requirements of building safety, the national flood insurance program, hurricane and earthquake resiliency standards, energy efficiency, fire safety, and technological advances in building materials and methods.

     The legislature finds that staff and operational expenses for the state building code council have never been funded, thereby limiting the effectiveness of the work of the eleven voting members on the council.  The state building code council applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency funds made available through the hazard mitigation grant program to fund the adoption of the hurricane and earthquake resiliency standards put forth in the 2012 International Building Code and Hawaii-specific amendments approved by the council.

     In November 2016, the department of accounting and general services was notified that the Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grant program had awarded a grant to the State for a project entitled "Hawaii state building code administrative rules to implement updated statewide standards for hurricane mitigation".  As a reimbursement grant, the department of accounting and general services is required to utilize its operating funds to accomplish the project and after a review, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse the State up to $75,000.  The $75,000 award amount comprises:

     (1)  $60,000 for a consultant to provide services to assist the state building code council with the timely performance of all tasks required to complete the Hawaii rule-making process under chapter 91, including publication and advertising costs required for a public hearing; and

     (2)  $15,000 for management of the consultant contract by the department of accounting and general services.

     The volunteer members of the state building code council will also provide an additional in-kind soft match of $25,000 for the State.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grant will enable the state building code council to fulfill its statutory obligation to update the state building code once every six years.  The latest update occurred in 2010 and was based on the 2006 International Building Code, which is four versions behind the latest version.  Hawaii is among the last few states in the country using an obsolete building code that is no longer considered adequate by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and will not be acceptable for use in any Federal Emergency Management Agency post-disaster aid.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the state building code council to update the state building code; provided that the funds will be reimbursed pursuant to the Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grant program.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $75,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 for the state building code council to update the state building code pursuant to the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grant.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of accounting and general services for the purposes of this Act; provided that all reimbursements received by the department of accounting and general services pursuant to the Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grant for any portion of the sum appropriated shall be deposited into the general fund.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 


 


 

Report Title:

Emergency Mitigation; Federal Emergency Management Agency Reimbursement Grant; Updated Statewide Standards for Hurricane Mitigation; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates $75,000 to DAGS for the State Building Code Council to update the state building code.  Requires the reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grant for the appropriated funds.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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