STAND. COM. REP. NO. 324

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 193

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 193 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to add to the membership of the State Fire Council, and to the membership of advisory committees that the council may appoint, representatives from the Hawaii State Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Unit and the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to reflect all non-federal fire fighting agencies in the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Fire Council, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Honolulu Fire Department, and Maui Fire Department.

Your Committees find that in 1979, the Legislature abolished the State Fire Marshal's Office and created the State Fire Council with the goal of developing and maintaining a comprehensive fire service emergency management network for the protection of life, property, and the environment throughout the State. Your Committees also find that the Hawaii State Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Unit and the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources communicate and collaborate with the county fire departments on a regular basis during emergency incidents and non-emergency administrative matters and provide specialty expertise and equipment in emergent and non-emergent environments that the county fire departments do not possess due to training, funding, or mission requirements. Your Committees believe that the Hawaii State Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Unit and the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources could provide unique perspectives to facilitate accomplishment of the State Fire Council's functions. This measure will provide the State Fire Council greater insight into Hawaii's fire risk and improvements relating to the protection of persons and property against fire by adding to the membership of the State Fire Council, and to the membership of advisory committees that the council may appoint, representatives from the Hawaii State Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Unit and the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to reflect all non-federal fire fighting agencies in the State.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and 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 S.B. No. 193 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair