SB2772

SECTION 1. (a) There is established a uniform building permit working group to study the feasibility of creating a single statewide building permit application package and uniform review and approval process for building permits that can be used by all counties to standardize paperwork, enhance efficiency, and streamline the building permit review and approval process throughout the State.

(b) The working group shall address and make recommendations on:

(1) The feasibility of creating a single statewide building permit application package, to include any necessary corresponding forms, that can be used by all counties and that complies with all relevant state, county, and federal requirements;

(2) The feasibility of establishing a uniform review and approval process for building permits that can be used by all counties;

(3) The laws, ordinances, or rules, if any, that would impede or prevent the counties from collaboratively creating a single statewide building permit application package or uniform review and approval process for building permits;

(4) The financial needs and funding mechanisms necessary to implement a single statewide building permit application package and uniform review and approval process for building permits;

(5) The concrete steps that each county will take individually to minimize delays, enhance efficiency, and streamline their building permit review and approval process, should it be determined that a single county building permit application package or uniform review and approval process is not feasible; and

(6) Any other relevant issues that may arise, at the discretion of the working group.

(1) The comptroller, or the comptroller's designee, who shall serve as chairperson of the working group;

(2) Two members of the state building code council, to be appointed by the chairperson of the working group;

(3) The chairs of the senate and house of representatives standing committees on housing, or their designees;

(4) The director of planning and permitting of the city and county of Honolulu, or the director's designee;

(5) The director of public works of the county of Maui, or the director's designee;

(6) The county engineer of the department of public works of the county of Kauai, or the county engineer's designee; and

(7) The director of public works of the county of Hawaii, or the director's designee.

(d) The working group may invite additional experts or organizations with relevant knowledge or experience to participate in the working group.

(e) The working group may request assistance and feedback from the department of accounting and general services; department of health; department of land and natural resources; department of Hawaiian home lands, and any other departments deemed appropriate; Hawaii community development authority; and city and county of Honolulu and the counties of Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii, to provide expertise to assist the working group in conducting the uniform building permit study. The working group shall further consult with industry stakeholders, who are encouraged to cooperate and provide information or input.

(f) The working group shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, relating to the unified building permit study to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2025.

(g) The members of the working group shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

(h) No member of the working group shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of the member's participation in the working group.

(i) The working group shall be dissolved on June 30, 2025.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish a uniform building permit working group to study the feasibility of creating a single statewide building permit application package and uniform review and approval process for building permits that can be used by all counties.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of accounting and general services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2772
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII