STAND. COM. REP. NO. 784

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 795

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 795, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

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

     Specifically, the measure outlines the requirements and provisions to be contained in the code.  The measure also appropriates $500,000, for fiscal year 2007-2008, 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.

     The Department of Accounting and General Services, the State Fire Council, the Kauai County Fire Department, the Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii, State Farm Insurance Companies, and the Hawaii State Council of the American Institute of Architects submitted comments in support of this measure. The Department of Defense submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that the State has traditionally allowed the individual counties to establish their own building codes.  The counties have adopted various portions of the Uniform Building Code, but building codes differ from county to county.  The status of the fragmented building requirements in Hawaii is of serious concern to those involved in building ownership, design, construction, and insurance.  The adoption of a uniform set of statewide building codes 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.  The health and safety considerations related to the codes are of statewide interest, especially relating to emergency disaster preparedness.

     The intent of this measure is to require the Department of Accounting and General Services to establish and implement a statewide building code to provide for the implementation of consistent standards throughout the State of Hawaii.

     Your Committee amended this measure by:

(1)  Funding the amount of the appropriation from the interest earned in the principal in the Hawaii hurricane relief fund;

(2) Changing the amount of the appropriation in section 4 to an unspecified amount to facilitate further discussion; and

(3)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair