STAND. COM. REP. NO. 24

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 786

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 786 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require government entities to seek reimbursement for the expenses arising from the search and rescue of persons who ignore posted warning signs, leave a hiking trail to enter a prohibited area, or hike on a trail that is closed to the public.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Honolulu Police Department and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the coronavirus 2019 pandemic led to a surge of experienced and inexperienced hikers venturing into the outdoors. Occasionally, hikers ignore posted warning signs, intentionally leave a hiking trail, or enter property that is closed to the public. This behavior has vastly proliferated due to social media that now promotes activities and features areas that are subject to closure or warning signage. When one of these hikers needs to be rescued, it is the State that bears the burden of paying for the costs associated with the search or rescue. Your Committee believes that shifting the cost to hikers who ignore posted warning signs, intentionally leave a hiking trail, or enter property that is closed to the public may act as a deterrent and reduce violations, improve public safety, and mitigate the need for costly and dangerous rescue.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 786, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 786, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair