STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1749

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 217

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 217, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOME RENOVATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Update the cost valuations of work on certain residences for the work to qualify for an exemption from the requirement that plans and specifications for construction projects be prepared by a licensed engineer or architect; and

(2) Clarify the types of work that shall not be exempted from the requirement that plans be prepared by a licensed engineer or architect.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the American Institute of Architects Hawaii Council; Crossland Engineering, LLC; Hawaii Solar Energy Association; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects; Our Revolution Hawaii; and 350Hawaii.org.

Your Committee finds that existing law requires that plans and specifications for construction projects on certain buildings, including residences, must be prepared by a licensed engineer or architect, unless the estimated cost of the work is under a certain dollar amount. The law was last amended in 1979 and the value of one dollar in 1979 is now equivalent to over four dollars. Accordingly, this measure updates cost valuations of certain work that can be performed without plans or specifications prepared by a licensed engineer or architect, thus decreasing the cost for homeowners to make renovations to their homes.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting unspecified amounts for the cost valuations of work on certain residences for the work to qualify for an exemption from the requirement that plans and specifications for construction projects be prepared by a licensed engineer or architect; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 217, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 217, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair