STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3082

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2521

       H.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2521, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAZARDS TO PROPERTY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to protect public health and safety as authorized under section 128-10.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by appropriating funds for fiscal year 2014-2015 to State Civil Defense to:

     (1)  Cut, trim, or remove dangerous trees that pose a hazard to other properties;

     (2)  Stabilize or remove unstable rock and soil hazards; and

     (3)  Clean streams and waterways to mitigate or prevent flooding or other disasters.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Department of Defense Civil Defense Division and four individuals.

     Your Committees find that State Civil Defense regularly receives requests for assistance relating to hazardous conditions.  State Civil Defense has continued to mitigate hazardous situations, despite the lack of dedicated funding or increased personnel.  This measure protects public health and safety by supporting proactive management of public safety threats from dangerous trees, unstable rock and soil, and waterways.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2521, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Water and Land,

____________________________ MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair