STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1063

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 93

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 93, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BUILDING CODES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to promote the safety of users of buildings and facilities throughout the state by:

     (1)  Creating a State Building Code Council (Council) to:

          (a)  Establish a comprehensive state building code;

          (b)  Appoint a subcommittee to recommend any necessary or desirable amendments to the model codes;

          (c)  Review and adopt, as appropriate, new model building codes; and

          (d)  Provide education and technical training and administrative assistance;

          and

     (2)  Appropriating funds for the operations of and technical assistance services to the Council.

     The Department of Defense, Plumbers and Fitters Union Local 675, Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii, and State Farm Insurance Companies testified in support of this bill.  The Disability and Communication Access Board supported this measure with amendments.  The State Fire Council and Kauai Fire Department supported the intent of this bill.  The Department of Accounting and General Services offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation amounts to unspecified amounts, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 93, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 93, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair