STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2324

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2128

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2128 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 require builders of new one- and two-family dwellings to provide buyers with information on the benefits and costs associated with installing and maintaining a residential fire sprinkler system.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Fire Council and Honolulu Fire Department. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Building Industry Association Hawaii, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that automatic fire sprinkler systems have a proven record of significantly reducing damage to real and personal property, injuries, and deaths due to residential fires. Your Committee further finds that new dwellings are especially susceptible to residential fires due to engineered lumber burning and collapsing much faster than traditional wood. The installation of smoke detectors and fire sprinklers can reduce the risk of fire-related deaths by eighty-two percent. However, many new buyers of dwellings are not privy to the benefits of residential fire sprinkler systems. This measure will ensure that buyers of new one- or two-family residential dwellings are cognizant of the benefits of installing fire sprinkler systems by requiring builders to provide such information to each buyer.

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. 2128 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Judiciary.

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