STAND. COM. REP. NO. 15

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 779

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Tourism and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 779 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE FIRE COUNCIL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the State Fire Council to employ an administrator and an administrative assistant, and to specify the duties of the administrator.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, Hawaii Fire Department, and Kauai Fire Department.

     Section 132‑16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, establishes the State Fire Council, which consists of the fire chiefs of the counties.  The functions of the State Fire Council are to adopt the State Fire Code, and to coordinate applications to the federal government for federal grant assistance for fire‑related projects and to administer those grants.  The State Fire Council also undertakes a myriad of other fire-prevention duties, including fire inspection and prevention.

     Existing law does not provide for an administrator for the State Fire Council.  Your Committee finds that an administrator is needed to assist the council with its operations to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the council.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 779 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism and Government Operations,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair