STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1123-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2143

S.D. 1

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 Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2143, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate monies to the Wildfire Management Branch of the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Forestry and Wildlife to award grants to nonprofit organizations for wildfire preparedness and mitigation programming.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii State Fire Council; Maui Fire Department; Honolulu Fire Department; Hawaiʻi Forest Industry Association; Lāhainā Strong; Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization; Firewise Committee of the Lanikai Neighborhood Community; Mahanalua Nui HOA; Fire Protection Subcommittee of the Kohala Ranch Community Association; Paniolo Hale Firewise USA; Maui Chamber of Commerce; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure provides funding for nonprofit organizations willing to engage in frontline efforts to mitigate the risk of wildfires to Hawaii's communities, including by implementing proactive measures such as fuel reduction, firebreak construction, and community outreach initiatives.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it choose to deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $500,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2143, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2143, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair