STAND. COM. REP. NO. 243

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1206

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 1206 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A STATE PERMITTING OFFICE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a state permitting office to process building and infrastructure permits for construction of state buildings, state roads and highways, and other construction on state lands, while ensuring that the construction complies with all state and county building and infrastructure requirements.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

Your Committee finds that delays in the county building permit process have severely impacted the ability of the State to commence state construction projects. These delays have increased construction costs and harmed the livelihoods of state contractors. This measure is intended to reduce the backlog of state-related projects awaiting county permit reviews to promote efficiency without compromising compliance and safety.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding a requirement that the county in which the state project is located issue a certificate of occupancy to the State for any building for which a state permit is issued by the state permitting office; provided that certain conditions are met;

(2) Adding a requirement that each county in which a state project is located allow projects issued a state permit by the state permitting office to connect with all required infrastructure services;

(3) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1206, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1206, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Government Operations,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair