STAND. COM. REP. NO. 431

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 732

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 732 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR STATE LIFEGUARDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funding for salaries and benefits for lifeguards for the islands of Maui and Kauai in areas under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, subject to county matching funds.

     This measure appropriates an unspecified amount for fiscal year 2007-2008, for salaries and benefits for lifeguards for the island of Maui, and appropriates an unspecified amount for fiscal year 2007-2008, for the island of Kauai, for the same purpose.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, and the Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park.

     Your Committee finds that the State does not employ its own lifeguards, but instead contracts with the counties for its lifeguard services at select state park beaches.  Currently, the City and County of Honolulu and the County of Hawaii provide lifeguards at two State park beaches.  The Counties of Kauai and Maui have not participated in the program for some time due to liability concerns.

     Your Committee further finds that this measure provides the necessary funding for lifeguards at Makena Beach on the island of Maui and Ke'e Beach on the island of Kauai.  Serious spinal cord injuries and drownings have occurred at Makena Beach.  Ke'e Beach is the gateway to the beaches along the beautiful, but dangerous Na Pali Coast and claims the lives of many visitors and residents each year.  The closest lifeguard stations and emergency responders are stationed at Hanalei Beach Park and most response calls in this area result in body recovery operations.

     Your Committee amended this measure by leaving the appropriation figures unspecified and by inserting language in section 4 to clarify the reference to the appropriation sections.

     It is the intent of your Committee to help ensure public safety at State beach parks by appropriating funding for the salaries and benefits for lifeguards for the islands of Maui and Kauai in areas under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 732, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 732, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair