HB1841

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that following the Maui wildfires in Augusts of 2023, the speaker of the state house of representatives established six bipartisan interim working groups tasked with evaluating specific topics and making recommendations for appropriate legislative action in the regular session of 2024. Members of the working groups collaborated with federal, state, and county agencies, along with community stakeholders and interested parties, to identify immediate issues that require temporary or transitional relief for the people and businesses of west Maui.

The legislature further finds that the wildfire prevention working group was specifically tasked with identifying the causes of wildfires and preventative action that may be taken to reduce the risk of wildfires throughout the State and preparing recommendations for appropriate legislative action. All working groups released a joint final report in December 2023 detailing their findings and recommendations.

The purpose of this Act is to adopt a recommendation of the wildfire prevention working group by appropriating funds to maintain and update wildfire-specific equipment and wildfire-suppression infrastructure statewide.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for operating costs to support fire and emergency response, prevention and pre-suppression activities, and post-fire restoration.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for equipment for the department of land and natural resources' division of forestry and wildlife, to be allocated as follows:

1. Molokai

D6 bulldozer $

4,000 gallon water tender $

Total funding $

2. Maui

D6 bulldozer $

Four dip tanks $

Total funding $

3. Hawaii Island

Three off-road

one-thousand gallon tenders $

D4 bulldozer $

Trailer for D4 bulldozer $

Four dip tanks $

Trailer $

Total funding $

4. Kauai

Hooklift truck with

attachment $

Off-road one thousand

gallon tender $

Two fire utility-terrain

vehicles $

Tractor mower $

D4 bulldozer $

Front end wheel loader $

Fire utility-terrain

vehicle trailer $

Logistics trailer $

Four dip tanks $

Total funding $

5. Oahu

Logistics trailer $

Two trailers for

utility-terrain

vehicles/all-terrain

vehicles $

Four fire

utility-terrain vehicles $

Four dip tanks $

Tractor mower $$

Total funding $

6. Statewide

Seventeen Ford F-450

fire engines $

Eight remote automated

weather stations $

Five unmanned aircraft

systems with thermal

detectors $

Radio equipment $

Total funding $

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the establishment of twenty-two full-time equivalent (22.0 FTE) positions as follows:

(1) $ for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) planner IV position;

(2) $ for two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) natural resources management specialist IV positions;

(3) $ for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) forester IV position;

(4) $ for four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) heavy equipment operator positions;

(5) $ for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) automotive mechanic I position;

(6) $ for two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) heavy vehicle/construction equipment mechanic I, BC-11 positions;

(7) $ for two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) heavy vehicle/construction equipment mechanic I, WS-11 positions; and

(8) $ for nine full-time equivalent (9.0 FTE) forestry and wildlife worker II, BC-05 positions.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the purpose of wildfire water infrastructure capital improvement projects for the department of land and natural resources.

The sum appropriated for the capital improvement projects listed in this section shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources.

SECTION 6. The appropriation made for the capital improvement projects authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2026, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 7. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No. , will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. In addition, the appropriations contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further exceeded by $ or per cent. The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

(1) The appropriations made in this Act are necessary to serve the public interest; and

(2) The appropriations made in this Act meet the needs addressed by this Act.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1841
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII