STAND. COM. REP. NO. 189

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 425

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness, to which was referred H.B. No. 425 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to, beginning January 1, 2022:

(1) Prohibit the issuance of building permits for new building construction, unless the applicant provides sufficient proof the building can withstand a category four hurricane; and

(2) Require building permits to be obtained for work performed for state government agencies on all new public buildings and requires those buildings to be designed to withstand a category five hurricane.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

Your Committee finds that given the geographical location of Hawaii, the State experiences multiple tropical storm and hurricane warnings. Despite this, your Committee finds that many buildings in the State are not properly designed to withstand a strong hurricane. Your Committee believes that the State needs to be better prepared by ensuring that all new buildings are properly built to withstand certain categories of hurricanes. This measure will ensure the safety of residents and visitors of the State by establishing requirements that new buildings must be able to withstand at least a category four hurricane.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 425, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 425, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair