STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1513

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   S.B. No. 150

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 150, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BUILDING DESIGN FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the design and construction of public buildings, facilities, and sites are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Federal Fair Housing Act (FFHA).

 

     Specifically, this bill:

 

     (1)  Enables the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB) to charge a fee to defray expenses of reviewing construction plans of buildings and facilities for compliance with the ADA and FFHA;

 

     (2)  Clarifies that the fees collected by DCAB is pursuant to section 103-50(e), Hawaii Revised Statutes, that requires DCAB to charge a fee for services rendered;

 

     (3)  Establishes the temporary fees to be charged for the review of buildings and facilities by DCAB which fees will be superseded by the fees established by DCAB through its rule-making process;

 

     (4)  Establishes an accessible building and design special account, within the DCAB special fund, for fees to be deposited and expended; and

 

     (5)  Requires DCAB to report to the Legislature annually regarding revenues collected, including a summary of the plans reviewed and the fees collected from each state or county department or agency.

 

     The Department of Accounting and General Services, DCAB, Department of Education, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The City and County Department of Design and Construction offered comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Finalizing fee amounts to be charged in the graduated estimated construction cost fee schedule for the review of buildings and facilities by DCAB;

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2011; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 150, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 150, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair