STAND. COM. REP. NO. 29

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 146

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 146 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE FIRE COUNCIL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to add to the membership of the State Fire Council and to the membership of advisory committees that the State Fire Council may appoint.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Fire Council and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land Natural Resources is the primary responder for wildfires on twenty-six percent of the land area in Hawaii and has approximately one hundred fifty staff trained to respond. The Hawaii State Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Unit and the Division of Forestry and Wildlife communicate and collaborate with the county fire departments on a regular basis during emergency incidents and non-emergency administrative matters.

Your Committee further finds that the two agencies provide specialty expertise and equipment in emergent and non-emergent environments which the county fire departments do not possess due to training, funding, or mission requirements. Your Committee finds that enlisting representatives from the Hawaii State Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Unit and the Division of Forestry and Wildlife as members of the State Fire Council would promote further engagement with county fire departments on core issues affecting natural resources and public safety.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 146, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 146, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Government Operations,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair