SB 188: RELATING TO A STATE PERMITTING OFFICE.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO A STATE PERMITTING OFFICE.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that delays in the county building permit process have severely impacted the ability of the State to commence state construction projects.  The legislature further finds that construction delays have increased construction costs and harmed the livelihoods of state contractors.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a state permitting office to quickly and efficiently process building and infrastructure permits for construction of state buildings, state roads and highways, and other construction on state lands, while simultaneously ensuring that the construction complies with all state and county building and infrastructure requirements.

     SECTION 2.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

STATE PERMITTING OFFICE

     §   -1  Definitions.  For purposes of this part:

     "Department" means the department of transportation.

     "Office" means the state permitting office established pursuant to section    -2.

     "State permit" means a permit issued by the state permitting office.

     §   -2  State permitting office; purpose.  There is established the state permitting office within the department.  Subject to the requirements of this part, the state permitting office shall:

     (1)  Review applications containing state building and infrastructure construction plans to ensure that the plans satisfy the state building code as required by section 107-31, the applicable county building code, and any other applicable construction code; and

     (2)  Issue a state permit to the applicant if the application satisfies all applicable codes or deny the application if the application does not satisfy all applicable codes.

     §   -3  State permit authorized.  (a)  A person may obtain a state permit from the office in lieu of obtaining a county building or infrastructure permit required by any county for any type of work regarding a state building, state infrastructure, or any type of work on state land.

     (b)  Notwithstanding any law or ordinance to the contrary, any person who obtains a state permit under this part shall not be liable for any failure to obtain a county building or infrastructure permit for the same work submitted in an application to the office for which the state permit was issued.

     §   -4  Rules.  The state permitting office, in consultation with the state building code council, shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary for this part, including rules addressing the permit application process, required submissions, and fees."

     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 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for establishment of the state permitting office.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of transportation for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

State Permitting Office; DOT; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the State Permitting Office within the Department of Transportation to process building and infrastructure permits for construction of state-owned buildings, state roads and highways, and other construction on state lands.  Appropriates moneys.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.