Hawaii Senate Bill SCR167

Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/23
• Refer: 3/15/23

Caption

Requesting Each County To Require That The County Agency Responsible For Enforcing Its Respective Building Code Be Accredited By The International Accreditation Service.

Impact

This resolution aims to ensure that county building agencies operate under the best and most currently accepted standards, which could lead to improvements in the consistency and quality of building practices across the counties. By achieving IAS accreditation, local building agencies are expected to enhance their processes, resulting in potential cost reductions and time savings while improving the overall quality of products and services within the construction sector.

Summary

Senate Concurrent Resolution 167 (SCR167) requests that each county in Hawaii, except for Kalawao, mandate that the agency responsible for enforcing its respective building code be accredited by the International Accreditation Service (IAS). The IAS is known for providing objective evidence that an organization meets high ethical, legal, and technical standards, thereby enhancing the credibility of the agencies enforcing building codes.

Contention

While the resolution is primarily a request and does not carry the force of law, its adoption could lead to significant changes in how counties regulate construction and building safety. It represents a push towards standardization across counties, which may meet resistance from those who advocate for local control and flexibility in regulatory measures based on unique community needs. Concerns may arise regarding the implications of requiring such accreditation on smaller counties, which may face challenges in meeting the IAS’s standards.