STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3533

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 70

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 70 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CONVENE A SEARCH AND RESCUE WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO DETER HIKERS FROM ENTERING ILLEGAL HIKING TRAILS AND TO ADDRESS RISING SEARCH AND RESCUE COSTS FACING THE STATE AND COUNTIES DUE TO INCREASED ILLEGAL HIKING TRAFFIC,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Law Enforcement to convene a Search and Rescue Working Group to develop and make recommendations to deter hikers from entering illegal hiking trails and to address rising search and rescue costs facing the State and counties due to increased illegal hiking traffic.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has increased outdoor activity around the world, specifically hiking in Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that some individuals and groups unlawfully enter trails that have been closed to the public due to safety concerns, ultimately putting themselves at risk of significant injury and risking damage to native habitats and other natural resources that may be in those closed areas for preservation purposes. Your Committee concludes that because of the considerable costs associated with the search and rescue of individuals who wilfully disregard their and others' safety by ignoring warning signs, it is critical to develop policies that encourage public safety and accountability.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 70, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 70, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair