STAND. COM. REP. NO.  92-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2464

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2464 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require forest and wildlife managers to declare hazardous fire areas during fire danger periods and impose restrictions on the use of certain land for which the Department of Land and Natural Resources has direct fire responsibility; and

     (2)  Establish a task force to develop a statewide hazardous fire area program.

     The Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted testimony in opposition.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will help mitigate the risk of fires during periods of weather when the threat of fire is particularly dangerous on land by requiring a forest and wildlife manager to impose restrictions, such as the prohibition of burning or use or possession of fireworks, on lands for which the Department of Land and Natural Resources has direct responsibility.  In addition, it establishes a task force to develop a statewide program that would enable the fire chief of each county to declare hazardous fire areas during fire danger periods and on any public or private property adjoining lands that the Department of Land and Natural Resources has direct fire protection responsibility.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2464 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair