Hawaii: Bill Establishing State Building Code Goes into Effect July 1

On Sunday, SB 795, requiring the Department of Accounting and General Services to create a state building code council, goes into effect.

The council will be responsible for establishing a comprehensive state building code, reviewing and adopting new model building codes, providing education and technical building code training, and offering administrative assistance through services or grants to assist the implementation and enforcement of the state building code. Pursuant to the law, counties may deviate from the approved state building code.

“NAMIC commends Governor Lingle and the state Legislature for acknowledging the importance of uniform state building codes and for encouraging the assessment and implementation of hurricane resistive building standards,” said Christian J. Rataj, NAMIC Western state affairs manager. “Public safety is of paramount concern to the insurance industry, and recent natural disasters have illustrated the importance of having uniform building codes that take into consideration hurricane force winds. SB 795, CD1 is a meaningful first step toward improving Hawaii’s infrastructure and housing market, so that it is better prepared to survive the catastrophic forces of Mother Nature.”

Last month, Gov. Linda Lingle, at the encouragement of members of the insurance industry, signed the bill into law.

Direct questions to NAMIC State Affairs Manager Christian J. Rataj.

Posted: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 12:00:00 AM. Modified: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 10:29:36 AM.

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We are 1,400 property/casualty insurance companies serving more than 135 million auto, home and business policyholders, with more than $196 billion in premiums accounting for 50 percent of the automobile/homeowners market and 31 percent of the business insurance market. We are the largest and most diverse property/casualty trade association in the country, with regional and local mutual insurance companies on main streets across America joining many of the country’s largest national insurers who also call NAMIC their home. More than 200,000 people are employed by NAMIC members.