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.  1249-12

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2397

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2397, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the counties from requiring the installation or retrofitting of automatic fire sprinklers or an automatic fire sprinkler system in any new or existing detached one- or two-family dwelling unit used for residential purposes, but allows counties to require sprinklers for:

 

     (1)  Any new home that requires a variance from access road or fire fighting water supply requirements; and

 

     (2)  Any non-residential agricultural or aquacultural building or structure located outside the urban area.

 

     The Building Industry Association of Hawaii; Gentry Homes, Ltd.; The Pacific Resource Partnership; the General Contractors Association of Hawaii; and an individual supported this measure.  The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation supported the intent of this measure.  The State Fire Council; the Honolulu Fire Department; the Hawaii County Fire Department; the Kauai County Fire Department; the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, Local 1463, IAFF, AFL-CIO; the Plumbers and Fitters Union, Local 675; and the National Fire Protection Association opposed this measure.  The Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association and the International Code Council commented on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Including any non-residential agricultural or aquacultural building or structure located outside the urban area among the structures for which the counties may not require sprinklers;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, for the purpose of facilitating further discussion;

 

     (3)  Repealing the measure five years after its effective date; and

 

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

 

     Your Committee notes that there are concerns regarding individual and community safety as well as with the rising costs of homes.  These amendments seek to balance the concerns of all stakeholders.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2397, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2397, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

 

 

____________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair