HR149

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	149
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002
STATE OF HAWAII

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE STATE ADMINISTRATION TO DIRECT ONE-FIFTH OF ONE PER CENT OF ALL CONSTRUCTION EXPENDITURE BUDGETED BY THE STATE OF HAWAII IN ANY YEAR TOWARDS A CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES RESEARCH CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

 

 

WHEREAS, construction expenditure in the State of Hawaii approximates $3,000,000,000 per year; and

WHEREAS, construction engineering is a major part of our State's economy, and construction projects have a multiplier effect on the State's economy; and

WHEREAS, the investments in construction is a significant portion of the State's expenditure, especially at a time of economic difficulties; and

WHEREAS, frequent cost overruns on construction projects is common; and

WHEREAS, there is also considerable waste in construction projects due to lost resource utilization, materials abuse, poor management and procurement, substance abuse, accidents, and safety violations; and

WHEREAS, the estimated waste in construction projects range from five per cent to twenty-five per cent which amounts to more than $150,000,000 wasted per year from a $3,000,000,000 outlay - money that could be successfully used elsewhere in other social and public programs; and

WHEREAS, the State has a Water Resources Research Center to study, monitor, and research the drinking water in Hawaii since the supply of water is critical to the State; and

WHEREAS, construction is also a very critical investment area for all taxpayers especially due to its singularly large capital outlay; and

WHEREAS, a recent bill on raising taxes on tobacco set aside five per cent for promotion of health due to tobacco related diseases; and

WHEREAS, money set aside for a center to specifically study, monitor, and research construction activities in the State can provide much needed information and useful strategies and techno-managerial improvements for the construction industry; and

WHEREAS, such a center would study the nature, business, and technology of construction in Hawaii, as well as labor conditions, productivity issues, capital financing, claims and change orders, procurement strategies, construction management, cost control, schedule control, optimization sciences, cultural influences, and types of investment sectors, with the objective to enhance the knowledge and technology base of construction in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, tens of billions of dollars have already been spent by the State in construction development through the years, but not a cent has been devoted to learning from that construction, or establishing a competitive and scientific research base that can be used for the benefit of those interested in and involved in construction in future years and to possibly help with reducing waste and construction costs in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the dividends from this small investment for study and research will be many times the construction outlay, and will have a long lasting effect on the business and construction environment in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, public and private agencies, and interested individuals will be able to utilize the study and research undertaken in a scientific manner; and

WHEREAS, the studies will seek to provide decision making information to government decision makers on appropriate construction costs, and will comprehensively analyze the information of the different areas of construction spending with relation to the state economy for future planning of construction outlays; and

WHEREAS, the center will focus on construction items pertaining to Hawaii, such as for tourism, education, housing, and innovative projects; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Hawaii has the resources, facilities, skills, talents, visibility, and credibility to organize such studies; and

WHEREAS, the State has unique conditions and cultural situations, the information and analysis of which cannot be obtained from any research done on the mainland or elsewhere; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the state administration direct one-fifth of one per cent of all construction expenditure budgeted by the State of Hawaii in any year towards a Construction Resources Research Center to be housed in the College of Engineering of the University of Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that:

(1) The Administration of the Construction Resources Research Center be done under the guidance and direction of a tenured construction engineering faculty member from the Department of Civil Engineering having a terminal degree in the area of construction engineering management who also has considerable experience in Hawaii;

(2) The Construction Resources Research Center hire post-doctoral associates, other researchers, and administrative assistants/helpers as staff of the Construction Resources Research Center to fulfill its objectives and mandate; and

(3) The Construction Resources Research Center perform comprehensive analyses of the Hawaiian construction industry in a scientific manner, organize seminars, and produce reports and deliverables for dissemination to the public and government organizations;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Comptroller, the President of the University of Hawaii, the Chairperson of the Board of Regents, and the Chairperson of the University of Hawaii Department of Civil Engineering.

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Construction Resources Research Center; UOH; Feasibility Study