THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1213
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to permitting.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that, currently, an applicant for a building permit must submit an application to each agency that has jurisdiction over an aspect of the project.  Many times, this means that an applicant must wait for approval from one agency, before submitting an application to another agency to approve another aspect of the project.  At times, an agency may decline to approve an aspect of a project that was approved by another agency that reviewed an application related to the project.  Other times, an application may be declined without an explanation as to why it was rejected.

     The legislature finds that convening all state and county agencies that may have to approve an aspect of a project for one informational meeting with the applicant would allow questions to be answered, concerns to be addressed, and inconsistencies to be clarified on one setting.  The legislature finds that this would encourage cooperation and compromise among permitting agencies and applicants and expedite the permitting process.

     The purpose of this Act is to streamline the permitting process by requiring applicants for county building permits to present information on their project at an informational meeting attended by all state and county agencies that will review an application for the project.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§46-    Streamlined permitting; informational meeting. Within thirty days of receiving an application for a building permit for a project that will require the approval of more than one state or county agency, the county agency receiving the permit application shall convene an informational meeting, which shall be attended by the applicant and representatives of each state and county agency that will review a permit application related to the project.  At the informational meeting, the applicant shall make a comprehensive presentation that describes the proposed project and shall respond to inquiries from the relevant state and county agencies."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Streamlined Permitting; Informational Meeting

Description:

Requires applicants for county building permits to attend an informational meeting with representatives of state and county agencies that will review an application related to the project.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.