Bill Text: HI SB2397 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Counties; Automatic Fire Sprinklers; Residences

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2012-04-27 - (S) Act 083, 4/26/2012 (Gov. Msg. No. 1184). [SB2397 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SB2397-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2055

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2397

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2397 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIRE SPRINKLERS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit counties from requiring installation or retrofitting of automatic fire sprinklers in new or existing one- or two‑family dwelling units used only for residential purposes.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Building Industry Association; Complete Construction Services Corp.; The Pacific Resource Partnership; Alan Shintani Inc.; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; The Gentry Companies; RMA Sales; Hawaii Aquaculture & Aquaponics Association; and one individual.  Testimony in opposition was received from the State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, Maui Fire Department, Kaua‘i Fire Department, National Fire Protection Association, Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Association of Hawaii, and The Plumbers and Fitters Union, Local 675.

 

     Your Committee finds that the mandatory installation of automatic fire sprinklers is unnecessary at this time because new homes are built with better fire safety measures; fire sprinklers are not cost-effective; targeted fire safety education programs work; fire sprinklers have not been proven to enhance the safety of occupants; and if a homeowner wants to install a fire sprinkler, that option should be left to the homeowner.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to January 1, 2025, to ensure further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2397, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2397, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, and Housing.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

 

		____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair