CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 46

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2007

RE:    S.B. No. 795

       S.D. 2

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 795, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BUILDING CODES,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Accounting and General Services to establish a Statewide Building Code Council and implement a statewide building code.

     Specifically, the measure outlines the requirements and provisions to be contained in the statewide building code.  The measure also appropriates an unspecified amount for the operations of the State Building Code Council, including technical assistance services, and training and administrative assistance, as required, to be expended by the Department of Accounting and General Services. 

     Your Committee on Conference finds that the State has historically allowed the individual counties to establish their own building codes.  The adoption of a uniform statewide building code applicable to one and two family dwellings, all other residential uses, commercial and industrial buildings, and state buildings would make it possible for building owners, designers, contractors, and code enforcers within the State to apply consistent standards.  Your Committee on Conference believes that the health and safety considerations relating to establishing a statewide building code is of statewide interest, especially relating to emergency disaster preparedness. 

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding a purpose section that describes the differences in various codes from county to county and stating the overall purpose of the measure is to require the Department of Accounting and General Services to establish and implement a statewide building code;

     (2)  Clarifying language to ensure that statewide building code requirements apply to all construction in the State of Hawaii;

     (3)  Clarifying the descriptions of the Statewide Building Code Council;

     (4)  Requiring the Statewide Building Code Council members to serve four-year terms;

     (5)  Inserting a specific amount in the appropriation section for the operations of the Statewide Building Code Council, including technical assistance services, and training and administrative assistance as required;

     (6)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2007; and

     (7)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 795, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 795, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ ROBERT N. HERKES, Co-Chair	____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair
____________________________ ROLAND D. SAGUM III, Co-Chair	____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Co-Chair
	____________________________ SHAN S. TSUTSUI, Co-Chair