STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1445

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 409

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 409, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support fire prevention efforts in Hawaii by:

(1) Appropriating funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the Division of Forestry and Wildlife's Community Fuels Reduction Project to support wildlife prevention and hazardous fuel reduction measures; and

(2) Beginning with fiscal year 2025-2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, requiring the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish the Community Fuels Reduction Project as a separate line item within the department's budget.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Pu‘uanahulu Firewise Committee, Mahanalua Nui Homeowners Association, Hydroponics Alternatives LLC, and six individuals.

Your Committees find that with land-use and climate changes in Hawaii, wildfires have become a significant and growing hazard to many places across the State. This measure provides funds in the short term for the Community Fuels Reduction Project and seeks to ensure resources are available for the Project over the long term.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

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

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 409, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 409, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair