STAND. COM. REP. NO. 645-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1842

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1842 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIRE PREVENTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to adopt the recommendation of the Wildfire Prevention Working Group to increase:

(1) Monetary penalties for violations of state fire protection laws to improve compliance with state and county fire codes; and

(2) Criminal penalties for arson in the fourth degree during red flag warnings.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii State Fire Council; Honolulu Police Department; Honolulu Fire Department; Maui Chamber of Commerce; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Speaker of the House of Representatives established six working groups to evaluate the aftermath of the Maui wildfires and make recommendations for appropriate legislative action in the Regular Session of 2024. In December 2023, these working groups released a joint final report detailing their findings and recommendations. This measure seeks to deter certain actions that contribute to an increased risk of wildfires.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1842, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1842, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair