STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1228-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2842

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2842, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WILDFIRE SAFETY AND PREVENTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a Wildfire Mitigation Working Group to develop a state wildfire mitigation plan and to advise and make recommendations to state agencies concerning the State's wildfire safety and prevention efforts.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Hawaii State Fire Council; Hawaiʻi Forest Industry Association; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Lāhainā Strong; Maui Chamber of Commerce; and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Public Utilities Commission.

Your Committee finds that the Wildfire Mitigation Working Group proposed by this measure will help the State improve its efforts at wildfire safety, prevention, preparedness, and mitigation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Not explicitly specifying that the Wildfire Mitigation Working Group is established within the Department of Land and Natural Resources;

(2) Clarifying that the Chairperson of the State Fire Council may designate a designee to serve on and as co-chair of the Wildfire Mitigation Working Group;

(3) Changing the working group member representing the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency from the Executive Officer to the Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency;

(4) Removing certain responsibilities of the Wildfire Mitigation Working Group, including:

(A) Developing and making recommendations to the Public Utilities Commission related to utility wildfire safety and mitigation performance metrics;

(B) Developing and making recommendations related to the contents of electric utility wildfire mitigation and protection plans and plan updates; and

(C) Providing other advice and recommendations related to wildfire safety, as requested by the Public Utilities Commission; and

(5) Requiring the Wildfire Mitigation Working Group to submit the state wildfire mitigation plan and a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature by December 1, 2026;

(6) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(7) 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 Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2842, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2842, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair