HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	120
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REcommending that realtors promote the principles of universal design.

     WHEREAS, "universal design" is defined as the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design; and

     WHEREAS, universal design involves designing products considering various factors, including but not limited to, aesthetics, engineering options, environmental issues, industry standards, safety concerns, and cost; and

     WHEREAS, the principles of universal design were developed in 1997 at the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University by a group that included architects, product designers, engineers, and environmental design researchers; and

     WHEREAS, the principles of universal design are:  (1) equitable use, (2) flexibility in use, (3) simple and intuitive, (4) perceptible information, (5) tolerance for error, (6) low physical effort, and (7) size and space for approach and use; and

     WHEREAS, in the field of real estate, universal design includes the incorporation of such features as no step entries, one-story living, wide doorways, wide hallways, and extra floor space; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature finds that the principles of universal design should be promoted within the field of real estate marketing; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that the Hawaii Association of Realtors are encouraged and requested to promote the marketing of properties which incorporate the principles of universal design into their design; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Association of Realtors are requested to develop standards for determining whether a property incorporates universal design principles into its design; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Association of Realtors are requested to designate a symbol, to be include within their listing of a property, which would indicate whether a property satisfied their standards for determining whether a property has incorporated universal design principles into its design; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Association of Realtors are requested to report to the Legislature regarding the establishment of these standards and the designation of a symbol not later than twenty days prior to the convening of Regular Session of 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Hawaii Association of Realtors.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Universal Design Principles; Real Estate Marketing.