STAND. COM. REP. NO. 46-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1477

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1477 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide potential home buyers of one- and two-family dwellings with information on the benefits of a residential fire sprinkler system and a written cost estimate for the materials, labor, and any applicable permit fees for the fire sprinkler system.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Fire Council, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and Building Industry Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that eight out of ten deaths occur in a residential home; however, residential fire sprinklers are found in only seven percent of all homes damaged by a fire. Your Committee further finds that residential fire sprinklers reduce the heat, flames, and smoke produced in a fire and can reduce the risk of death in residences.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the definitions of "builder" and "buyer" and adding a definition for "owner";

(2) Deleting the requirement that building or fire officials provide a written cost estimate for a residential fire sprinkler system to the applicant or applicant's representative, who shall provide it to the owners;

(3) Deleting the requirement for the State Fire Council to develop a standard form for buyers' acceptance or rejection of a residential fire sprinkler system;

(4) Requiring the State Fire Council to update its written materials detailing the benefits of a residential fire sprinkler system as needed;

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

(6) 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. 1477, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1477, 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,

____________________________

NADINE K. NAKAMURA, Chair