STAND. COM. REP. NO. 899

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1101

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1101, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to lessen the severity of property loss in the State from strong winds.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the Insurance Commissioner to establish a safe home program to encourage the installation of wind resistive devices;

(2) Creates a safe home program trust fund and authorizes the award of grant moneys from the fund to owners of single-family, owner-occupied, residential properties in certain circumstances;

(3) Creates one temporary position within the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to implement and administer the program; and

(4) Requires an annual report of statistical information on the use of the program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; Hawaii State Energy Office; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Hawaii Insurers Council; University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program; and one individual.

The State Procurement Office and one individual submitted written comments on the measure.

Your Committee finds that the safe home program will benefit Hawaii residents by encouraging the installation of wind resistive devices designed to reduce the incidence and severity of personal injury and property damage in the event of a hurricane. Your Committee also finds that the program will stimulate economic growth and activity in the State by creating opportunities for the sale and installation of wind resistive devices.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1101, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1101, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair