Report Title:

Condominiums; Resident surveys

Description:

Requires regular surveys of residents of multi-unit residential buildings on specific needs and issues relating to medical needs, accommodations for the disabled, and other special needs for emergency preparation purposes.  Requires multi-unit residential buildings to have and inform their residents of emergency evacuation plans.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2046
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to multi-unit residential buildings.

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

     SECTION 1.  Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§   -    Multi-unit residential buildings; resident safety. (a)  No later than one year from the effective date of this Act, the resident manager, condominium association, owner, or other similar person responsible for the management, operations, and safety of a multi-unit residential building shall survey the residents of the building in writing to establish each resident's medical or other critical personal needs including their:

(1) Inability to ascend or descend stairs;

(2) Medication issues such as:

(A) Required refrigeration; and

(B) Limited supplies;

(3) Dependence on a respirator or oxygen;

(4) Use of a wheelchair or other assistive device;

(5) Mental limitations such as those caused by Alzheimer's or other illness or condition; and

(6) Special dietary needs.

(b)  All information provided by these surveys shall be kept in writing in a safe place, preferably on or near the property, and, in case of a disaster or other emergency, made available to rescue personnel including fire, police, and civil defense.

(c)  Provision of the information for each survey shall be voluntary.  The survey information shall be updated every six months.

(d)  No person, association, or other entity responsible for providing the survey and preserving the survey information shall be liable for any loss due to a faulty survey, or the loss or misuse of the survey results.

§   -    Multi-unit residential buildings; emergency evacuation plans. No later than one year from the effective date of this Act, the resident manager, condominium association, owner, or other similar person responsible for the management, operations, and safety of a multi-unit residential building shall have developed, with the aid of rescue and medical personnel as necessary, an emergency evacuation plan for the building.  A copy of the plan shall be provided to every unit in the building and a copy shall be posted in one or more public areas where it is most likely to be seen by the greatest number of residents such as elevator lobbies."

     SECTION 2.  New statutory material is underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

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