STAND. COM. REP. NO. 440

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1154

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1154 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII HURRICANE RELIEF FUND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS REDUCTION PLAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require that the comprehensive loss reduction plan of the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund include developing and implementing building code hurricane standards and funding for the adoption of administrative rules to implement state building code and design standards.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Department of Public Works of the County of Kauai, Department of Emergency Management of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, American Council of Engineering Companies, Mason Contractors Association of Hawaii, Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii, and five individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund.

     Your Committee finds that mitigating future losses due to hurricanes is essential for the public's health, safety, and welfare.  The losses resulting from hurricanes can be devastating and wide-ranging.  Along with the obvious property damage that hurricanes can cause, hurricanes can also impact the cost and availability of hurricane insurance.  The Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund was created to develop a comprehensive loss reduction plan for hurricane peril, including standards for residential and commercial structures and a timetable for the implementation of mandatory mitigation measures.  In addition, the State Building Code Council is also responsible for establishing residential and hurricane resistant standards related to loss mitigation standards.  However, the Council has never been properly funded and has consequently been limited in its ability to carry out its duties.  Moreover, the overlapping responsibilities of the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund and the State Building Code Council have created confusion and resulted largely in a failure to implement the proper building standards and develop a loss mitigation plan.  Therefore, it is necessary to amend the relevant statutes to require the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to develop and implement building code hurricane standards and include funding for the adoption of administrative rules to implement state building code and design standards.

     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. 1154 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means.

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

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair