STAND. COM. REP. NO. 549-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1843

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water & Land and Labor & Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 1843 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Office of the State Fire Marshal to direct statewide efforts in preventing and responding to fires throughout the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii State Fire Council; one member of the Maui County Council; Maui Fire Department; Honolulu Fire Department; Hawaii Fire Department; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; and four individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of the Governor; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; and Maui Chamber of Commerce.

Your Committees find that Hawaii is the only state without a State Fire Marshal, whose position was abolished in 1979 and replaced with the State Fire Council. Your Committees further find that the State Fire Council's members serve as non-compensated volunteers as their time allows from their full-time employment. This measure better serves the needs of the State by establishing a dedicated State Fire Marshal.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Providing that the Governor, rather than the State Fire Council, appoints the State Fire Marshal;

(2) Requiring the State Fire Council to submit a list of three nominees to the Governor from which the Governor must appoint the State Fire Marshal;

(3) Establishing a ten-year term of office for the State Fire Marshal;

(4) Amending the duties of the State Fire Marshal;

(5) Allowing the State Fire Marshal to utilize the services of the State Fire Council advisory committee and administrative staff in carrying out the State Fire Marshal's duties;

(6) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(7) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water & Land and Labor & Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1843, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1843, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water & Land and Labor & Government Operations,

____________________________ SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair