HB2485

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that development in the outlying fringe of metropolitan areas and in rural areas is increasing the size of the wildland-urban interface, the area where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland. The expansion of the wildland-urban interface in recent decades has significant implications for wildfire management and impact. A growing wildland-urban interface creates an environment in which fire can move readily between structural and vegetation fuels, and it increases the likelihood that wildfires will threaten structures and people. Firewise Hawaii is a collaborative effort involving builders, homeowners, insurers, mortgage brokers, landscapers, fire service, community leaders, planners, developers, local and state agencies, and others in the effort to protect people, property, and natural resources from the risk of wildland fire before a fire starts. This approach emphasizes community responsibility for planning in the design of a safe community as well as effective emergency response, and individual responsibility for safer home construction and design, landscaping, and maintenance.

The purpose of this Act is to establish the firewise Hawaii program in the division of forestry and wildlife, department of land and natural resources, to address the growing fire danger in wildland-urban interface areas.

SECTION 2. Chapter 183, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§183- Firewise Hawaii program. (a) As used in this chapter, "firewise communities" are those that have a wildfire emergency action plan in place, or are interested in preparing an action plan to: avoid potential wildfire emergencies by addressing and correcting wildland fire hazards, prepare themselves in the event a wildfire threatens, and educate the community on wildfire prevention.

(b) There is hereby established the firewise Hawaii program in the department. The department shall administer this section through the administrator of the forestry and wildlife division.

(1) Providing technical assistance and support to firewise communities by providing technical expertise in firewise, GIS risk mapping, guidelines for creating risk mitigation ordinances, and community grant program participation requirements;

(2) Developing a public outreach plan to include printed material and a firewise Hawaii web site with information on creating defensible space and reducing wildfire risk, as well as community meetings for public education;

(3) Providing firewise communities with a generalized risk assessment, maps, and data describing a community's general wildland fuels and fire risks; and

(4) Providing firewise communities with specific assessment technology for use in the detailed community assessment work.

§183- Firewise Hawaii special fund. (a) There is established in the state treasury the firewise Hawaii special fund, into which shall be deposited:

(1) Grant moneys or other contributions from federal, state, or county government sources or private entities to support operations of the firewise Hawaii program; and

(2) Appropriations made by the legislature to the firewise Hawaii special fund.

(b) The Hawaii firewise special fund shall be administered by the division of forestry and wildlife, department of land and natural resources. All moneys in the fund shall be expended by administrator of the forestry and wildlife division to carry out the purposes of the program and to fund staff positions, including, but not limited to, a contract coordinator and field office specialists."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to be deposited into the firewise Hawaii special fund.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the firewise Hawaii special fund the sum of $ for the purposes of the firewise Hawaii program.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2485
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII