Hawaii-2023-SR84-Amended

WHEREAS, a 2019 study by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism found that the State will require an additional 50,156 homes by the year 2025, with the City and County of Honolulu requiring 22,168 new units, Hawaii County requiring 13,303 new units, Maui County requiring 10,404 new units, and Kauai County requiring 4,281 new units; and

WHEREAS, there has been a lack of measurable progress at the county level to enact policies that will stimulate housing production to meet the projected demand; and

WHEREAS, existing laws and county procedures regarding the adoption and implementation of building codes impede the building permit process; and

WHEREAS, the State Building Code Council is responsible for establishing a state building code through the timely adoption of national building codes, which is based on:

(1) The state fire code, as adopted by the State Fire Council;

(2) The Uniform Plumbing Code;

(3) The International Building Code, International Residential Code, and International Energy Conservation Code, as published by the International Code Council;

(4) The National Electrical Code, as published by the National Fire Protection Association; and

(5) Hawaii design standards implementing the criteria pursuant to Act 5, Special Session Laws of Hawaii, 2005, as applicable to emergency shelters and essential government facilities; and

WHEREAS, the process to obtain a building permit in the State is often redundant, costly, and time consuming for builders and residents; and

WHEREAS, the State Building Code Council should be required to take into account the experiences and climate of the current building industry, including economic impact on future buyers; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that the Governor is requested to convene a task force to examine and make recommendations on the existing procedures for the adoption of the state building code; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to:

(1) Consider whether the current state building code adoption process is effective and relevant;

(2) Consider whether county building codes should be eliminated in favor of a single statewide building code; and

(3) Examine the extended time frame and financial impacts that building code adoption has on construction and housing prices in the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to consist of the following individuals:

(1) The Governor, or the Governor's designee, who is requested to serve as the chairperson of the task force;

(2) The State Comptroller, or the State Comptroller's designee;

(3) The Director of the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting, or the Director's designee;

(4) The Director of the County of Hawaii's Planning Department, or the Director's designee;

(5) The Director of the County of Kauai's Planning Department, or the Director's designee;

(6) The Director of the County of Maui's Planning Department, or the Director's designee;

(7) One member from the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(8) One member of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

(9) Two representatives from the Building Industry Association of Hawaii with knowledge and experience in construction and construction costs;

(10) Two representatives from the General Contractors Association of Hawaii with knowledge and experience in construction and construction costs;

(11) Two representatives from the Subcontractors Association of Hawaii with knowledge and experience in construction and construction costs; and

(12) Two representatives from NAIOP Hawaii with knowledge and experience in construction or development and associated costs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor and Department of Accounting and General Services are requested to provide administrative support to the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Comptroller; Directors of the Planning Departments of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui; Director of the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; President of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii; President of the General Contractors Association of Hawaii; President of the Subcontractors Association of Hawaii; and President of NAIOP Hawaii.

Report Title:

State Building Code; Task Force

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	84
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII