THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

634

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODES.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  For centuries, Hawaii has been blessed with consistent rainfall and, due to its geology, with high-quality fresh water.  Recently, however, scientists, farmers, and others have observed signs that threaten the long-term fresh water security of the Hawaiian islands.

     The Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment reports that throughout the Pacific region, warmer and drier conditions will result in drought and rising temperatures, thus causing a decrease of fresh water supplies.

     Hawaii needs to make changes that will increase its ability to capture, store, and efficiently use fresh water.  Among the least expensive and most efficient ways to increase the supply of fresh water are water conservation and reuse.  An important component in the conservation and reuse of water is the timely adoption, through amendments to the state building codes, of changes to the model Uniform Plumbing Code that encourage water resource conservation, improvements to water distribution systems, and recovery of used water.

     The purpose of this Act is to expedite the review, updating, and adoption of appropriate updates to the Uniform Plumbing Code, through amendments to the state building codes.

     SECTION 2.  Section 107-24, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:

     "(f)  The council shall review and adopt, as appropriate, new model building codes within eighteen months of the official publication date[.]; provided that the council shall review and adopt the necessary and desirable amendments to the Uniform Plumbing Code within one year after the updated Uniform Plumbing Code is published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials."

     SECTION 3.  Section 107-28, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§107-28  County authority to amend and adopt the Hawaii state building codes without council approval.  (a)  The governing body of each county shall amend, adopt, and update the Hawaii state building codes as they apply within their respective jurisdiction, in accordance with section 46-1.5(13), without approval of the council.  Each county shall amend and adopt the Hawaii state building codes and standards listed in section 107-25, as the referenced Hawaii state building codes and standards for its respective county building code ordinance, no later than two years after the adoption of the Hawaii state building codes[.]; provided that each county shall adopt the necessary and desirable amendments to the Uniform Plumbing Code specified in section 107-25(2) within one year after the updated Uniform Plumbing Code is adopted by the council.

     (b)  If a county does not amend the Hawaii state building codes within the [two-year] time frame[,] specified in subsection (a), the Hawaii state building codes shall become applicable as an interim county building code."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.


 


 

Report Title:

State Building Codes; Uniform Plumbing Code; Adoption

 

Description:

Expedites the review, update, and adoption of the Uniform Plumbing Code as it relates to the Hawaii State Building Codes.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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