STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2465

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2397

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2397, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIRE SPRINKLERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit counties from requiring installation or retrofitting of automatic fire sprinklers in new or existing one- or two‑family dwelling units used only for residential purposes.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; General Contractors Association of Hawaii; Building Industry Association of Hawaii; The Pacific Resource Partnership; Gentry Homes, Ltd.; Alan Shintani Inc.; and Complete Construction Services.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was received from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety, Kauai Fire Department, City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that there have been significant improvements to the fire safety of homes over the past few decades, which has led to a dramatic and continued decrease in fire incidents, injury, death, and property loss.  Further, no data exists that suggests that the installation or retrofitting of automatic sprinklers will significantly improve the fire safety of homes.  Therefore, your Committee finds that the mandatory installation of automatic fire sprinklers is unnecessary at this time.  However, to encourage further discussion on the issue, your Committee has retained the effective date of January 1, 2025.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2397, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, and Housing,

____________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair