SB2842 SD2

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State recognizes the increasing threat of wildfires to our communities, natural resources, and economy and that the State is committed to proactively addressing this growing challenge through a comprehensive and collaborative approach. Understanding the need for a multifaceted strategy, the legislature further finds that a working group comprising government agencies, fire experts, landowners, and stakeholders is required to identify solutions that address the State's wildfire preparedness and mitigation challenges and improve the State's wildfire preparedness and mitigation practices.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a wildfire mitigation working group.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the department of land and natural resources 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.

(b) The working group shall comprise the following members:

(1) The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources, or the chairperson's designee, who shall serve as co-chair of the working group;

(2) The chairperson of the state fire council, who shall serve as co-chair of the working group;

(3) The executive officer of the Hawaii emergency management agency or the executive officer's designee;

(4) The director of the office of planning and sustainable development or the director's designee;

(5) The director of transportation or the director's designee;

(6) The director of taxation or the director's designee;

(7) A representative of the ranching industry, to be invited by the chairperson of the state fire council;

(8) One member who shall be appointed by the president of the senate;

(9) One member who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(10) A representative of a Hawaii wildfire management organization, to be invited by the chairperson of the state fire council.

(1) Identify and map wildfire susceptibility and vulnerability to determine which communities, landscapes, buildings, and infrastructure are most vulnerable to future wildfires;

(2) Identify tax incentives and develop recommendations for a competitive grant funding opportunity to reduce fire risk and support fuels management of private lands;

(3) Develop and make recommendations for a system of monetary support for managing public land to reduce fire risk;

(4) Review the emergency resources that are available in the State to be deployed to address fires;

(5) Advise and make recommendations to state agencies concerning the State's wildfire safety, prevention, and mitigation efforts;

(6) Develop and make recommendations to the public utilities commission related to utility wildfire safety and mitigation performance metrics;

(7) Develop and make recommendations related to the contents of electric utility wildfire mitigation and protection plans and plan updates, pursuant to section 269- , Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(8) Provide other advice and recommendations related to wildfire safety, as requested by the public utilities commission.

(d) No member of the working group shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the sole reason that the member participates in the working group.

(e) The working group shall be dissolved on December 31, 2026.

SECTION 3. 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 Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. This current declaration takes into account general fund appropriations authorized for fiscal year 2024-2025 in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act only. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

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

(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by 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 administrative expenses of the wildfire mitigation working group established pursuant to section 2 of this Act, including the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) administrative staff position.

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

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2842
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII