STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2307

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2290

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs and Water, Land, and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2290 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to incorporate provisions based on the latest edition of the International Green Construction Code in the state building code.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, International Code Council, The Asia-Pacific Center for Regenerative Design, Hawaii Laborers' Union, and two individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services, Building Industry Association of Hawaii, Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association of Hawaii, RMA Sales, General Contractors Association of Hawaii, and Hawaii Steel Alliance.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, and The Plumber and Fitters Union, Local 675.

     Your Committees find that the state building code protects the health, safety, and welfare of the people as it relates to the residential and commercial built environment.  The International Green Construction Code applies only to commercial buildings, including hotels, and does not apply to residential or agricultural buildings.  This measure will empower Hawaii's builders, designers, and engineers, to incorporate green materials and design into their work and result in developments that transform Hawaii's commercial built environment.

     Your Committees further find that International Green Construction Code provisions and International Green Construction Code Water Efficiency Provisions should be implemented within our State at the discretion of the State Building Code Council.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding language requiring the state building code to include code provisions based on the latest edition of the International Green Construction Code Water Efficiency Provisions; and

     (2)  Adding language clarifying that the State Building Code Council may exercise discretion in including code provisions from the International Green Construction Code and International Green Construction Code Water Efficiency Provisions.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs and Water, Land, and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2290, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2290, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs and Water, Land, and Housing,

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair
	____________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair