HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	49
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of labor and industrial relations to review and report on the creation of an administrator and administrative assistant position for the State fire council.

     WHEREAS, the State Fire Council(SFC), which consists of the fire chiefs of each of Hawaii's four counties, was established under Section 132-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

     WHEREAS, while the SFC has many functions, some of its main duties include adopting the State Fire Code, coordinating applications to the federal government for grant assistance for fire-related projects, and coordinating and administering these grants; and

     WHEREAS, the SFC also undertakes a number of fire-prevention initiatives and duties, including performing fire inspections and promoting fire prevention through the media and other means; and

     WHEREAS, although administratively attached to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR), current law does not provide for the SFC to have a dedicated administrator and administrative assistant, which has made it difficult for the SFC to fully perform all of its functions and duties in the most efficient manner; and

     WHEREAS, as a result, many of the functions of the SFC have been assumed by the county fire departments, which has caused personnel problems for the respective county fire departments, who have to shift personnel to perform the duties of the SFC; and

     WHEREAS, to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the SFC, DLIR should allow for the hiring of an administrator and administrative assistant to assist the SFC in its operations; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the Senate concurring, that DLIR is requested to review the benefits and negative aspects of creating an administrator and administrative assistant position for the SFC; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DLIR submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any necessary legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the Regular Session of 2008, on the prospect of establishing an administrator and administrative assistant position for the SFC; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, the State Fire Council, and the chief of the fire department of each county.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Requests the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to authorize the creation of an administrator and administrative assistant position for the State Fire Council.