Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 217 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to reduce the cost of flood insurance for Hawaii residents by requesting the counties to adopt ordinances allowing each county to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System.

The Hawaii Association of REALTORS supported this measure. The Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu commented on this measure.

Your Committee finds that the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System is a voluntary program that encourages communities to undertake floodplain management activities related to public information, mapping and regulations, flood damage reduction, and flood preparedness. A participating community's flood insurance premium rates are discounted up to ten percent in low to moderate flood risk zones, and up to 45 percent in high risk flood zones, based upon the community's floodplain management activities.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 217 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.