Report Title:

Construction Research Program; University of Hawaii

Description:

Establishes a construction research program within the University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Engineering. Appropriates funds to be used for the center's programs and functions. (SD2)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2379

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to A construction research PROGRAM.

 

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

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to establish a construction research program within the college of engineering of the University of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. Chapter 304, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new subpart to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Subpart  . Construction Research Program

§304-A Construction research program. (a) There is established a construction research program within the college of engineering of the University of Hawaii to study, monitor, research, and disseminate information regarding the nature, business, and technology of construction activities in the State to provide information, useful strategies, and technological managerial improvements for the construction industry.

(b) The program shall be located in and be a part of the college of engineering at the University of Hawaii. The affairs and operations of the center shall be administered by a director appointed by the dean. To provide stability to the administration and to ensure sufficient experience with construction issues in Hawaii, the director shall be a tenured faculty member from the college of engineering having a doctorate degree in the specialty area of construction engineering management. The director shall have not less than ten years professional experience in Hawaii.

(c) The program shall draw on existing personnel within the state government, insofar as possible, for necessary supplementation. Where bona fide demand for programs and services exceeds the capabilities of the permanent staff, as supplemented, additional personnel resources may be acquired on a contract basis without regard to chapter 76. Permanent staff, including post-doctoral associates, other researchers, and administrative assistants, shall be subject to chapter 76 or section 304-13, as may be appropriate.

(d) The program shall receive the full cooperation of all state agencies in the use of staff members, facilities, and other resources necessary to accomplish the purposes of this subpart.

§304-B Functions. The construction research program shall:

(1) Perform comprehensive analyses of the construction industry in Hawaii in a scientific manner, organize seminars, and produce reports and deliverables for dissemination to the public, construction industry, and government organizations;

(2) Study labor conditions, productivity issues, capital financing, claims and change orders, procurement strategies, construction management, cost control, schedule control, optimization sciences, cultural influences, and types of investment sectors, with the objective to enhance the knowledge and technology base of construction in Hawaii and assist the local builders, contractors, and unions;

(3) Provide decision making information to government decision makers at the department of accounting and general services, department of transportation, and the governor's office on appropriate construction costs, comprehensively analyze information of the different areas of construction spending with relation to the state economy for future planning of construction outlays, and implement research findings through the dissemination of reports to agencies and contractors;

(4) Focus on construction items pertaining to Hawaii, including tourism, education, housing, mass transit, priority projects, and innovative projects;

(5) Coordinate, arrange for, or provide technical assistance to appropriate organizations and contractors to improve or implement construction education programs within those organizations to raise their professional skills and level;

(6) Prepare and disseminate educational information and publications on various subjects of concern and interest to engineers, contractors, and their organizations;

(7) Provide advocacy to the state legislature and government for making future legislative changes to improve and enhance the construction industry in Hawaii; and

(8) Collaborate with the construction industry on specific projects."

SECTION 3. 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 2004-2005, for the planning, design, operation, and construction of a construction research program within the college of engineering of the University of Hawaii.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.