HCR97 HD2

WHEREAS, first responders often run toward emergencies and disasters as others are fleeing toward safety; and

WHEREAS, first responders in Hawaii serve the community courageously and heroically; and

WHEREAS, the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland, honors twenty-two firefighters from Hawaii--twelve from the Honolulu Fire Department, one from the Hawaii Fire Department, one from the Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety, one from the Kauai Fire Department, one from the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, three from the Pearl Harbor Naval Base, and three from the Hawaii Firefighters Association; and

WHEREAS, according to the United States Fire Administration of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, ten firefighters in Hawaii have died in the line of duty--four from the Honolulu Fire Department, one from the Hawaii Fire Department, two from the Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety, one from the Kauai Fire Department, one from the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and one from the federal fire department; and

WHEREAS, six paramedics, two medical flight nurses, and four medical flight pilots from Hawaii have died in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, the National EMS Memorial Foundation seeks to establish a permanent National EMS Memorial; and

WHEREAS, in February 2010, the Hawaii Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation was formed to design, construct, and maintain a monument to honor law enforcement officers from city, county, state, military, and federal agencies who have died in the line of duty, while serving the people of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, a similar, appropriate memorial to honor Hawaii first responders should be located in the State; and

WHEREAS, with the construction of a Hawaii First Responders Memorial, the State, along with the families, friends, and loved ones of fallen first responders, will forever honor their lives, which were selflessly given in service to the people of Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Accounting and General Services is requested to establish a working group to plan and construct a Hawaii First Responders Memorial; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of:

(1) The Comptroller, or the Comptroller's designee, who is requested to serve as chairperson of the working group;

(2) The fire chiefs of the Honolulu Fire Department, Hawaii Fire Department, Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety, and Kauai Fire Department, or their respective designees;

(3) The Chief of Ocean Safety of the City and County of Honolulu, a representative of the Hawaii Fire Department with experience in ocean safety, the Chief of the Ocean Safety Bureau of the Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety, and the head of the Ocean Safety Bureau of the Kauai Fire Department, or their respective designees;

(4) The Director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, or the Director's designee;

(5) A representative of American Medical Response in Hawaii;

(6) The President of the Hawaii Firefighters Association, Local 1463, IAFF, AFL-CIO, or the President's designee;

(7) The State Director of the United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO, or the State Director's designee;

(8) The Executive Director of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO, or the Executive Director's designee; and

(9) Two family members of fallen first responders, to be invited by the chairperson of the working group; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii First Responders Memorial is requested to:

(1) Honor first responders--firefighters, lifeguards, and paramedics/emergency medical technicians, medical flight nurses and pilots--who at the local, state, and federal levels of government, while in the line of duty, made the ultimate sacrifice to serve and protect the people of Hawaii;

(2) Call attention to the bravery and spirit of public service that first responders demonstrate in the line of duty;

(3) Be permanent and perpetual; and

(4) Be constructed and maintained from private funds solicited for that purpose; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Accounting and General Services is requested to coordinate all matters regarding the Hawaii First Responders Memorial, including but not limited to ongoing maintenance and repairs, either through private funds or funds allocated by the Legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Accounting and General Services is requested to submit a report of the working group's plans, including findings, recommendations, projected costs, and any necessary legislation, to the Legislature by November 30, 2024; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Comptroller; Fire Chief of each county; Chief of Ocean Safety of the City and County of Honolulu; the head of ocean safety at the Hawaii Fire Department; Chief of the Ocean Safety Bureau of the Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety; head of the Ocean Safety Bureau of the Kauai Fire Department; Director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department; American Medical Response in Hawaii; President of the Hawaii Firefighters Association, Local 1463, IAFF, AFL-CIO; State Director of the United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; and Executive Director of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

Report Title:

Hawaii First Responders Memorial; Department of Accounting and General Services; Working Group

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	97
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII