STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3272

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2521

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2521, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide resources to mitigate hazardous conditions to protect public health and safety.

Specifically, the measure appropriates funds to the Civil Defense Division of the Department of 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 Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Defense, the Civil Defense Division of the Department of Defense, and two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will help the Civil Defense Division protect public safety and mitigate hazardous situations by proactively managing threats from dangerous trees, unstable rock and soil conditions, and waterway flooding.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2521, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2521, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair