STAND. COM. REP. NO. 74-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1756

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1756 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require that the State Fire Code be adopted pursuant to meetings under the Sunshine Law instead of public hearings pursuant to the Hawaii Administrative Procedure Act.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, Hawaii Fire Department, and Maui Fire Department. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Building Industry Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the State Fire Code is one of several codes considered and adopted by the State Building Code Council. While other codes considered by the State Building Code Council need only be adopted pursuant to the State's Sunshine Law, the State Fire Code must go through the public hearing procedures in the Hawaii Administrative Procedure Act. This measure would remove that inconsistency.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1756, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1756, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair