STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1097
Honolulu, Hawaii
S.D. 1
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 786, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to require government entities to seek reimbursement for search and rescue expenses for persons who require rescue after ignoring warning signs, leaving a hiking trail to enter a prohibited area, or hiking on a trail closed to the public.
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Honolulu Police Department. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the State Fire Council, Department of Fire & Public Safety of the County of Maui, and Honolulu Fire Department.
Your Committees find that state and county agencies are regularly called upon to participate in search and rescue operations for people who have ignored posted warnings, left defined hiking trails, and ventured into closed areas. Standard search and rescue of lost or injured persons are anticipated and part of the expected operations of first responders, but when an individual chooses to the ignore warnings of government agencies or private landowners to maintain public safety, ongoing operations must be put on hold and agencies must incur additional unbudgeted costs and expenses to find and rescue these individuals. This measure requires agencies to pursue reimbursement of those extra costs and expenses from an individual who unreasonably disregarded their safety by ignoring warnings or leaving hiking trails, resulting in the need for rescue services.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 786, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,
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________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair |
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________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair |
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