HB2485 HD1

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. A collaborative effort is necessary to involve 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 wildland-urban interface 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 185, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§185- Wildland-urban interface program. (a) There is established the wildland-urban interface program in the department. The administrator of the forestry and wildlife division shall administer this program.

(b) The duties of the program may include:

(1) Assisting and supporting wildland-urban interface communities by providing technical expertise in wildland-urban interface, 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 wildland-urban interface web site with information on creating defensible space and reducing wildfire risk, as well as conducting community meetings for public education;

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

(4) Providing wildland-urban interface communities with specific assessment technology for use in the detailed community assessment work.

§185- Wildland-urban interface special fund. (a) There is established in the state treasury the wildland-urban interface 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 wildland-urban interface program; and

(2) Appropriations made by the legislature to the wildland-urban interface special fund.

(b) The wildland-urban interface special fund shall be administered by the department of land and natural resources' division of forestry and wildlife. All moneys in the fund shall be expended by the administrator of the forestry and wildlife division to carry out the purposes of the program and to fund staff positions, including a contract coordinator and field office specialists."

SECTION 3. Section 185-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

""Wildland-urban interface communities" means communities that have a wildfire emergency action plan in place, or are interested in preparing an action plan to:

(1) Avoid potential wildfire emergencies by addressing and correcting wildland fire hazards;

(2) Prepare themselves in the event a wildfire threatens; and

(3) Educate the community on wildfire prevention."

SECTION 4. 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 wildland-urban interface special fund.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the wildland-urban interface special fund the sum of $ for the purposes of the wildland-urban interface program.

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

SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2485
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII