STAND. COM. REP. NO. 481

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 682

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 682 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Clarify the authority of the county fire chiefs to examine building plans or documentation, or both, for certain types of projects to ensure that they are in compliance with the fire code and fire and life safety standards; and

     (2)  Require the approval of plans and specifications and issuance of permits before work may begin.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Kauai Fire Department.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Building Industry Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, BKA Builders, and Complete Construction.

     Your Committee finds that a thorough review of construction plans is necessary to ensure compliance with the fire code and fire and life safety standards.  Your Committee further finds that section 132-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, uses language that was applicable over thirty years ago and that building occupancies and classifications have since changed.  This measure is necessary to update the law and broaden the authority of the county fire chiefs to inspect plans and documentation for any type of building, structure, or facility in the interest of public safety.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the required plans or documentation, or both, are required for construction, alteration, rehabilitation or addition to any facility, rather than any property, and to a change in use of structure, rather than property;

     (2)  Permitting work to begin as soon as the necessary permits are issued by the jurisdiction having authority, without requiring the approval of the county fire chief, because each county fire chief's authority varies depending on agreements with building officials; and

     (3)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 682, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 682, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair