STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1135

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 564

      S.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred S.B. No. 564, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure adequate fire safety conditions while providing greater flexibility and efficiency for county fire departments by requiring fire safety inspections at least every five years instead of every two years for buildings.

     The State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, Kauai Fire Department, and Maui Fire Department supported this bill.

     Your Committee finds that the provisions of this bill may allow county fire departments greater flexibility with their limited resources.  However, concerns have been raised regarding reducing the number of fire safety inspections for facilities such as hospitals and care homes that deal with highly flammable substances such as oxygen and whose residents may have impaired abilities to evacuate in an emergency situation.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 564, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

____________________________

FAYE HANOHANO, Chair