THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2479
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to public safety.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Act 83, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, established a prohibition of the adoption of any codes or regulations by the respective counties that require the installation of residential fire sprinklers in one-and two-family dwellings, except to meet firefighting road access or water supply requirements.  Because of their reliability and effectiveness in suppressing a fire in its initial stages, both national residential building codes have required residential fire sprinklers for the past nine years.  The legislature also finds that a prohibition of any measure that may be considered and adopted at a local level that improves and enhances the fire survivability of community residents by eighty per cent and reduces fire losses is not in the best interest of public health and safety.

     Further, residential fire sprinklers greatly reduce the spread of fire, thereby significantly lessening property damage and loss.  The legislature also finds that the intensity, severity, and the spread of fire in residential structures is directly related to the contents and furnishings, and although improvements have been made in building construction, design, and materials, the volatility and toxicity of today's synthetic materials allows untenable conditions to be reached more rapidly.

     Finally, the legislature finds that the respective county jurisdictions face unique challenges and issues relating to fire protection, including population density, proximity of structures, infrastructure, access, and limited fire protection resources.

     Therefore, this Act recognizes individual county authority or "home rule" as the appropriate application of requirements.  The legislature further notes that the "home rule" principle is recognized, acknowledged, and supported by the evidence presented in the National Fire Protection Association's Fire Sprinkler Initiative, Legislative/Adoptions report that notes two states, California and Maryland have statewide requirements for residential fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family dwellings and seventeen states have no statewide requirements, but allow local jurisdictions to require residential fire sprinklers.

     SECTION 2.  Act 83, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, is amended by amending section 3 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2012; provided that on June 30, [2017,] 2016, this Act shall be repealed."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on June 30, 2016.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Counties; Fire Sprinklers; Ban

Description:

Moves up the repeal date of the ban on a county's authority to require automatic fire sprinklers in residences from 6/30/2017 to 6/30/2016.

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