STAND. COM. REP. NO. 252-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1943

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 1943 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIRE SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a fire safety working group to determine if a full-time state fire marshal's office would be more effective than the existing State Fire Council in planning, executing, and promoting fire safety-related programs and topics in the State; and

(2) Require the working group to submit a report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2023.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Honolulu Fire Department, Hawai‘i Fire Department, State Fire Council, and Hawaii Fire Fighters Association.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii is the only state in the nation without a fire marshal's office. The responsibilities of the State Fire Council include facilitating the adoption of a state fire code; administering the reduced ignition propensity cigarette program; coordinating statewide fire and life safety training, education, and data collection programs; and serving as the focal point for the applications and administration of federal grant assistance. Your Committee further finds that these responsibilities are borne by the fire chiefs of the four counties and are in addition to the current operational duties of their county fire departments. This measure will result in a report to guide the Legislature on the efficacy of the State Fire Council's organizational structure in meeting its statutory responsibilities and help to identify if a state fire marshal's office would better serve the community.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Placing the working group within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations rather than the Department of Public Safety for administrative purposes;

(2) Changing the effective date to December 25, 2040, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1943, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1943, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Tourism,

____________________________

RICHARD H.K. ONISHI, Chair