STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1844-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 3344

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 3344, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WILDFIRES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Wildfire Relief Fund and Wildfire Relief Fund Corporation (Corporation) to provide compensation for property damage resulting from catastrophic wildfires in the State, regardless of cause;

(2) Establish a working group to review, analyze, and report on implementation of the Wildfire Relief Fund; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the Wildfire Relief Fund, as a reserve against the State's irrevocable pledge to the Wildfire Relief Fund, and as one-time funding for an Administrator position to support the Corporation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Maui Chamber of Commerce; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Association for Justice. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Governor; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Public Utilities Commission; Office of the Auditor; Ulupono Initiative; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1260; Clearway Energy Group; Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative; Hawaiian Electric; Hawaiian Telcom; and one individual.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the number of full-time equivalent Administrator positions established to an unspecified number; and

(2) 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3344, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3344, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair