Bill Text: HI SB239 | 2025 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Disaster Preparedness.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-11 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SB239 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2025-SB239-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
239 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, with warmer seas caused by climate change, the spawning area for hurricanes near Mexico has moved north, and now, hurricanes that used to pass a few hundred miles below Hawaii are headed right at the State. Warmer seas mean stronger hurricanes, and categories three, four, and five hurricanes are increasing in number and strength. Super category five hurricanes, with wind speeds of up to two hundred miles per hour, have been occurring more frequently. It is projected that by 2080, a super category five hurricane will appear someplace in the world every year, with the northern Pacific, which includes Hawaii, expected to have the most.
The legislature further finds that the State used to be protected by cooler surrounding seas and by trade winds at a lower level, with strong winds in the opposite direction at a higher level that could tear approaching hurricanes apart. As those seas have now warmed and having lost eighty-one days of northeast trade winds in a span of forty years, the State now has more limited natural protection from hurricanes.
The legislature also finds that Hawaii cannot call its places of refuge "hurricane shelters" because many of the shelters do not meet the criteria of legitimate hurricane shelters, and few refuge areas in the State are able to withstand even a category two hurricane. In addition, there are only a few refuge areas in the State with a capacity to hold up to one hundred thousand people; however, the Honolulu department of emergency management expects that during a hurricane, the expectation is that two hundred thousand people will need to seek shelter.
In addition, there are numerous wooden homes in Hawaii, most of which will be damaged or destroyed even in a category one hurricane. Very few shelters can withstand a category three, four, or five hurricane, and if a hurricane strikes the State, there will be no other place for people to go.
The legislature believes that it has a deep moral obligation to the people of the State and to future generations living in Hawaii to immediately begin to build every home and every building to withstand future hurricanes.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to improve the State's preparedness for stronger hurricanes by requiring certain state buildings, including public school buildings, for which construction is anticipated to commence on or after July 1, 2026, to be designed to withstand category five hurricanes and be used as shelters in the event of an emergency.
SECTION 2. Section 107-27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§107-27 Design of state buildings. (a) No later than one year after the adoption of
codes or standards pursuant to section 107-24(c), the design of all state
building construction shall be in compliance with the Hawaii state building
codes[, except]; provided that state building construction [shall
be allowed to] may be exempted from:
(1) County codes that have not adopted the Hawaii state building codes;
(2) Any county code amendments that are inconsistent with the minimum performance objectives of the Hawaii state building codes or the objectives enumerated in this part; or
(3) Any county code amendments that are contrary to code amendments adopted by another county.
(b) Exemptions shall include county ordinances allowing the exercise of indigenous Hawaiian architecture adopted in accordance with section 46-1.55.
[(c) The State shall consider hurricane resistant
criteria when designing and constructing new public schools for the capability
of providing shelter refuge.
(d)] (c) Beginning July 1, 2023, where feasible and
cost-effective, the design of all new state building construction shall:
(1) Maximize energy and water efficiency measures;
(2) Maximize energy generation potential; and
(3) Use building materials that reduce the carbon footprint of the project.
(d) All state buildings, including public school
buildings:
(1) That are fully
enclosed;
(2) That have the
capacity to shelter a large population;
(3) That are intended
to serve as shelters during and after a category five hurricane; and
(4) For which
construction is anticipated to commence on or after July 1, 2026,
shall be designed to withstand category five
hurricanes and be used as shelters in the event of an emergency. For the purposes of this subsection,
"state buildings" does not include correctional facilities, covered
playgrounds, or sheds."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
State Buildings; Public Schools Buildings; Design; Hurricanes; Shelter
Description:
Requires certain state buildings, including public school buildings, for which construction is anticipated to commence on or after 7/1/2026 to be designed to withstand category five hurricanes and be used as shelters in the event of an emergency. (SD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
