CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 137-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2014

RE:    S.B. No. 2581

       S.D. 2

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2581, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Modify the composition, quorum requirement, and duties of the State Building Code Council;

     (2)  Amend the state building code, including the clarification of terminology, code adoption process, and staggering of code adoptions;

     (3)  Prohibit the State Building Code Council from adopting provisions in the Hawaii state building codes that conflict with laws governing contractors; and

     (4)  Appropriate funds to the Department of Accounting and General Services for the State Building Code Council and staff to carry out their duties and functions, including operating costs and staff salaries.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that modern building codes are necessary to protect the citizens of Hawaii.  In 2012, the State Building Code Council recommended an updated series of codes to be established as the new Hawaii State Building Code.  However, due to a lack of funding, the process was never completed.  This measure addresses the importance of the State Building Code Council's composition and duties to benefit the integrity of the code adoption process and appropriates funds to support the State Building Code Council's efforts to adopt a uniform set of statewide building codes and consistent standards.

     Your Committee on Conference notes that while this measure requires the State Building Code Council to update the Hawaii state building codes and standards at least once every six years, the Council is encouraged to monitor updates to national building codes and propose changes more frequently if necessary.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the State Building Code Council member representing the Building Industry Association of Hawaii or the General Contractors Association of Hawaii shall serve alternating four-year terms between the two organizations, with the first four-year term to be served by the member representing the Building Industry Association of Hawaii;

     (2)  Requiring, rather than permitting, the State Building Code Council to adopt, amend, or update Hawaii state building codes and standards on a staggered schedule, provided that any adoption, amendment, or update of any code occurs at least once every six years and is based upon an evaluation of the utility of the code or standard at the time each respective edition is published;

     (3)  Inserting an appropriation amount of $136,676;

     (4)  Inserting an effective date of July, 1, 2014; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2581, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2581, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Co-Chair	______________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair
____________________________ SYLVIA LUKE, Co-Chair	______________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Co-Chair
	______________________________ RONALD D. KOUCHI, Co-Chair