THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2543

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO STATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  (a)  There is established within the office of the comptroller a five-year office of the state construction manager pilot program, which shall be headed by a full-time state construction manager, to provide guidance and recommendations on the design review of state construction projects pursuant to this section.  The state construction manager shall be hired by the comptroller without regard to chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and report to the comptroller.

     (b)  To be eligible to serve in the position of state construction manager, an individual shall have held a valid license under chapter 464, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for at least five years immediately preceding the date of hire.

     (c)  The state construction manager shall not engage in the private practice of professional construction management or serve in a managing capacity in any private business or enterprise.

     (d)  The salary of the state construction manager shall be established by the comptroller.

     (e)  The office of the state construction manager shall provide guidance and recommendations on the design review of state construction projects administered by the department of accounting and general services and the department of education.  The office of the state construction manager shall:

     (1)  Review all plans, drawings, specifications, and any other documents necessary for state construction projects;

     (2)  Provide exclusive centralized design review services for the state construction projects;

     (3)  Assign an inspector to each state construction project for the purpose of observing the construction work; and

     (4)  Assign employees to the department of planning and permitting of the city and county of Honolulu, who shall have the sole responsibility of reviewing and approving permit applications submitted for state construction projects administered by the department of accounting and general services and the department of education.  The department of planning and permitting shall not assign any other work to these employees.

     (f)  The state construction manager may employ staff, including qualified architects and engineers as necessary, without regard to chapter 76, to carry out the duties and responsibilities established by this part.

     (g)  The cost of all design review services performed by the office of the state construction manager for a state agency shall be determined by the comptroller, in consultation with the state construction manager.

     (h)  All fees collected pursuant to subsection (g) shall be deposited with the comptroller to the credit of the design review special fund established by subsection (i).

     (i)  There is established in the state treasury the design review special fund to be administered and expended by the comptroller for the purposes of this Act, into which shall be deposited:

     (1)  Fees collected for services provided to state agencies pursuant to this section;

     (2)  Appropriations made by the legislature to the special fund; and

     (3)  Interest earned or accrued on moneys in the special fund.

     Moneys remaining on balance in the design review special fund at the close of each fiscal year shall remain in the special fund and shall not lapse to the credit of the state general fund until after the dissolution of the office of the state construction manager pilot program.

     (j)  No later than December 31, 2027, the comptroller, in consultation with the state construction manager, shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to implement this section.

     (k)  The state construction manager shall prepare and submit an annual report on the office of the state construction manager pilot program to the governor and legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, and 2031.  The report shall include:

     (1)  A summary describing the activities of the office of the state construction manager, including but not limited to a list and description of each state construction project that received a design review during the preceding fiscal year;

     (2)  A financial report on the status of the design review special fund established by subsection (i);

     (3)  An assessment of whether the pilot program should be extended; and

     (4)  Other findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation.

     (l)  The state construction manager pilot program shall be dissolved on June 30, 2031.

     (m)  For the purposes of this section:

     "State agency" means the department of accounting and general services and the department of education.

     "State construction project" means any undertaking of work or improvement of state lands or any interest therein, developed, acquired, constructed, reconstructed, rehabilitated, improved, altered, or repaired by a state agency.

     "State lands" means all lands owned by the State through any state agency.

     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 2026-2027 for the implementation of the office of the state construction manager pilot program established pursuant to section 1 of this Act, including the establishment of:

     (1)  One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) state construction manager position within the office of the comptroller; and

     (2)        full-time equivalent (      FTE) positions within the office of the state construction manager, including       full-time equivalent (      FTE) positions to be assigned to the department of planning and permitting of the city and county of Honolulu.

     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, 2525.

 


 

Report Title:

DAGS; DOE; Office of the Comptroller; State Construction Projects; Office of the State Construction Manager; Pilot Program; Design Review; Design Review Special Fund; Positions; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes within the Office of the Comptroller a five-year Office of the State Construction Manager Pilot Program headed by a full-time State Construction Manager, to provide guidance and recommendations on the design review of state construction projects administered by the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Education.  Requires the Office to assign employees to the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu to review and approve permit applications submitted for state construction projects administered by DAGS and DOE.  Establishes the Design Review Special Fund.  Establishes positions.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/2525.  Pilot Program sunsets on 6/30/2031.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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