REQUESTING CERTAIN STATE BUILDINGS DESIGNED ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 2027, AND INTENDED TO SERVE A SECONDARY PURPOSE AS AN EMERGENCY SHELTER TO BE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND CATEGORY 5 HURRICANES AND BE USED AS SHELTERS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.

This bill requests that all state buildings designed on or after July 1, 2027, which are intended to serve as emergency shelters, be constructed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes. The measure applies to state-owned structures that are fully enclosed and large enough to accommodate significant numbers of people during emergencies, while explicitly excluding correctional facilities, playgrounds, and sheds. The Department of Accounting and General Services is designated as the lead agency to enforce this requirement in cooperation with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. The resolution also directs the department to adopt official rules to implement these construction standards.