THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

17

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING the convening of a task force to consider THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIFORM STATEWIDE BUILDING CODE.

 

WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii has traditionally allowed the individual counties to establish their own building codes; and

WHEREAS, the counties have adopted various portions of the Uniform Building Code, but the code differs from county to county; and

WHEREAS, the status of fragmented building requirements in Hawaii is of serious concern to those involved in building ownership and design; and

WHEREAS, over forty states have adopted some form of a statewide building code; and

WHEREAS, the conditions affecting construction are nearly identical throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, the adoption of a uniform set of statewide building codes applicable to one and two family dwellings, all other residential uses, and commercial and industrial buildings would make it possible for building owners, designers, contractors, and code enforcers within the State to apply one set of standards; and

WHEREAS, international building codes are currently being considered for adoption by several counties; and

WHEREAS, the health and safety considerations related to these codes are of statewide interest; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Accounting and General Services is requested to convene a Uniform Statewide Building Code Task Force (Task Force) to consider the establishment of a uniform statewide building code in Hawaii, to include elements of indigenous architecture; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is requested to explore the establishment of a statewide building code, including elements of indigenous architecture, applicable to one and two family dwellings, all other residential uses, and commercial and industrial buildings, and make recommendations pertaining to the adoption of a uniform building code for the State of Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force membership is requested to include:

(1) The building department directors of the counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii, and the City and County of Honolulu, or their designees;

(2) One person appointed by the State Fire Council; and

(3) One person appointed by each of the following organizations:

(A) Building Industry Association of Hawaii;

(B) General Contractors Association of Hawaii;

(C) Hawaii Association of Realtors;

(D) Hawaii Independent Insurance Agents Association;

(E) American Institute of Architects Hawaii State Council; and

(F) Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii;

(4) One person appointed by the Insurance Commissioner representing an insurer that writes at least twenty per cent of the Hawaii homeowners insurance market;

(5) One person appointed by the Insurance Commissioner representing an insurer that writes less than twenty per cent of the Hawaii homeowners insurance market; and

(6) One person appointed by the Governor who is a licensed architect with expertise in indigenous architecture; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force members are requested to serve on a voluntary basis and to assume responsibility for any costs associated with their participation on the Task Force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Accounting and General Services is requested to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2006, outlining the positive and negative implications of the establishment of a statewide building code; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Comptroller, the directors of the building departments of the counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii, and the City and County of Honolulu, the State Fire Council, the Building Industry Association of Hawaii, the General Contractors Association of Hawaii, the Hawaii Association of Realtors, the Hawaii Independent Insurance Agents Association, the American Institute of Architects Hawaii State Council, the Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii, and the Insurance Commissioner.

 

Report Title:

Uniform Statewide Building Code Task Force