STAND. COM. REP. NO. 736

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1154

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1154 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII HURRICANE RELIEF FUND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS REDUCTION PLAN,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify that the comprehensive loss reduction plan of the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund shall include implementing building code requirements for hurricane standards in accordance with state building code and design standards and funding for the adoption of administrative rules to implement state building code and design standards.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; County of Maui Department of Fire & Public Safety; The Maritime Group; American Society of Civil Engineers, Hawaii Section; and Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund.

 

     Your Committees find that this measure will allow the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund and the State Building Code Council to simultaneously carry out their responsibilities to implement the loss mitigation standards relating to hurricane peril.  The State Building Code Council is required to adopt building codes within 18 months of publishing a new edition.  However, presently, many building codes still reference their 2006 editions despite new editions in recent years.  Lack of funding to facilitate the adoption of administrative rules has stalled the process.  Your Committees further find that allowing the State Building Code Council to work alongside the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund will make updating the building codes more effective and will better support the safety and general welfare of Hawaii residents.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1154 and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means,

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair