STAND. COM. REP. NO. 82-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1762

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 Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1762 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require sellers of residential buildings to equip the building with working smoke alarms that comply with state or county building or residential codes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, County of Hawaii Fire Department, County of Kauai Fire Department, and County of Maui Department of Fire & Public Safety.

Your Committee finds that smoke alarms are vital in reducing fire deaths and injury and are an essential part of any home fire escape plan. The current building code requires new or renovated homes to have smoke alarms in and outside of every bedroom and on every level. Your Committee further finds that today's smoke alarms are more technologically advanced to respond to a multitude of fire conditions and come with ten-year batteries. A smoke alarm provides individuals with notice that a building or home has excessive smoke or is on fire and gives its occupants the critical time needed to escape the danger.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2025, 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 Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1762, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1762, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

____________________________

TOM BROWER, Chair