STAND. COM. REP. NO. 590-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2158

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2158, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BOILER AND ELEVATOR SAFETY LAW,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Allow the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to permit owner-user inspectors in the exclusive employment of owner-user inspection organizations to perform inspections on pressure retaining items; and

(2) Extend the time for the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to reimburse the general fund from the Boiler and Elevator Revolving Fund from ten years to thirteen years.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Hawaiian Electric Company, and Par Hawaii.

Your Committee finds pressure retaining items retain pressure within a container that is substantially different from the outside pressure. Under existing law, the operation and use of these items are regulated by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and are required to be inspected in various circumstances.

Your Committee also finds that the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors permits an owner-user inspection organization to establish and maintain an inspection program as long as the organization and inspection program complies with certain requirements. This measure will align existing law with the practice of the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors to allow inspections of pressure retaining items by owner-user inspection organizations. This alignment will also augment the Department's ability to inspect and assure the safe operation and use of pressure retaining items in the State. Additionally, this measure will provide additional time for the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to reimburse the general fund from the Boiler and Elevator Revolving Fund, thereby allowing more flexibility to fund boiler and elevator safety operations while maintaining a feasible repayment schedule.

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. 2158, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair