Report Title:
Hawaii Construction Authority; Construction; Task Force
Description:
Establishes a task force to study the feasibility of establishing a Hawaii construction authority. (SD1)
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2546 |
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TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Hawaii's construction industry is currently experiencing a boom with recent reports indicating that it will continue expanding, adding more jobs and money into the local economy over the next several years. Statewide construction jobs grew 4.9 per cent in 2004 to roughly 29,300 jobs with expected increases of 6.5 per cent in 2005 and 3.1 per cent in 2006. Experts believe that this gain in the construction industry has been fueled by moderate but steady local economic expansion, stronger population growth, out-of-state second-home buyers for resort properties, low interest rates, and increases in the privatization of military construction projects. However, while the expansion of the construction industry continues, the industry still faces a number of unanswered questions, such as the adequacy of the workforce, and complaints, such as the bureaucracy and redundancy faced when developing properties.
The purpose of this Act is to convene a task force in the department of labor and industrial relations to study the feasibility of establishing a Hawaii construction authority to develop and implement a strategic, long-range, construction development plan for the State of Hawaii and streamline the construction process.
SECTION 2. (a) There is established a Hawaii construction authority task force within the department of labor and industrial relations for administrative purposes that shall consist of the following members:
(1) The director of labor and industrial relations or a designated representative;
(2) The director of commerce and consumer affairs or a designated representative;
(3) The director of business, economic development, and tourism or a designated representative;
(4) The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources or a designated representative;
(5) A member of the workforce development council from each county;
(6) A representative of each county to be appointed by its respective mayor;
(7) A representative from the board of water supply of the city and county of Honolulu or a designee, who shall also serve as the liaison of the task force to the directors of the boards of water supply of the other counties;
(8) A representative of Hawaiian Electric Company;
(9) A representative of Hawaiian Telcom;
(10) A representative of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii;
(11) A representative of the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council;
(12) A member of the Sierra Club or other similar environmental organization;
(13) An individual having knowledge, experience, and expertise in the area of construction, architecture, and engineering;
(14) An individual having knowledge, experience, and expertise with labor organizations representing the construction trades;
(15) An individual having knowledge, experience, and expertise in the area of Hawaiian cultural practices; and
(16) Any other agency or designee deemed appropriate by the director of labor and industrial relations.
(b) The task force shall conduct a study of the State's construction industry to determine the feasibility of establishing a Hawaii construction authority that will create and develop a long-range strategic plan for construction in Hawaii, including the development, coordination, and implementation of state policies for the construction industry and related activities taking into account the economic, social, and physical effects of construction on the State and its natural resources and infrastructure. The study shall include but not be limited to:
(1) An analysis of the number and types of government agencies involved in the construction industry permitting process;
(2) An overview of the permitting process for new developments;
(3) A review and analysis of the licensing requirements for construction trades;
(4) A review and listing of construction projects already in progress;
(5) A review and listing of construction projects targeted to begin during the current calendar year;
(6) A review and listing of construction projects projected to begin during the next five calendar years;
(7) A review of all federal, state, and county laws that will affect the construction industry in the State;
(8) Efforts to improve the construction industry through coordination among agencies that provide oversight or have jurisdiction over construction projects;
(9) Projections on the labor needs of the construction industry and the capabilities of the construction industry to meet these demands;
(10) Efforts to improve the education and training of the building trades;
(11) A review of all state and county laws to determine whether there is redundancy, and if so, whether elimination of this redundancy will improve the construction industry in the State;
(12) An analysis of the finite resources, such as land and drinking water, affected by increased development and whether the development of a construction authority would assist in the protection of these resources;
(13) The environmental impact of increased development;
(14) The benefits, as well as the drawbacks, of establishing a Hawaii construction authority;
(15) The costs of establishing a Hawaii construction authority;
(16) The impact the establishment of a Hawaii construction authority would have on public employees and departments currently administering programs that would be incorporated into a Hawaii construction authority; and
(17) Any other objective deemed necessary by the director of labor and industrial relations.
SECTION 3. The director of labor and industrial relations, in consultation with the task force, shall submit a report to the legislature, including findings, recommendations, and draft legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2008.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the establishment of a Hawaii construction authority task force.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.