Report Title:

Fire Protection

 

Description:

Amends the state fire code to include requirements for any property on which the county does not have jurisdiction over road and sign standards, minimum private water supply reserves, fuel breaks, and green belts to improve fire protection.  (HB2467 HD1)

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2467

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  Section 132-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§132-3  Adoption of state fire code.  [The] (a)  Prior to July 1, 2009, the state fire council [shall], after public hearings pursuant to chapter 91, shall adopt [prior to July 1, 1979,] a state fire code setting forth minimum requirements [relative to] for the protection of persons and property from fire loss, including [without limitation:]:

     (1)  [the] The storage, handling, and use of hazardous substances, materials, and devices; and

     (2)  [the] The control of conditions hazardous to life or property in the design, use, or occupancy of buildings and premises.

     (b)  The state fire code[, insofar as is practicable,] shall [complement,]:

     (1)  Complement, augment, and be consistent in form and language with the building and other codes of the respective counties[.]; and

     (2)  Include requirements for any property over which the county has no jurisdiction related to:

         (A)  Road standards for fire equipment access;

         (B)  Sign standards to expedite the identification of streets, roads, and buildings;

         (C)  Minimum private water supply reserve for emergency fire use; and

         (D)  Fuel breaks and green belts.  As used in this paragraph:

                   "Fuel break" means a wide strip of land from which the vegetation is permanently reduced or removed so that fires can be more readily extinguished.

                   "Green belt" means an area of land on which development is strictly controlled.

     (c)  Upon adoption by the state fire council, the state fire code shall be transmitted to the respective county councils [which may, by ordinance, either] for the county councils to either enact [its] the provisions of the state fire code or enact more stringent provisions relating to the protection of persons and property against fire loss; provided that the county councils may enact less stringent provisions with the prior written approval of the state fire council.

     (d)  The state fire council shall meet annually to review and amend the state fire code."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.