STAND. COM. REP. NO.  98-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2234

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 2234 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TORT LIABILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to permanently extend the law providing county lifeguards protections from liability by repealing the sunset date of Act 170, Session Laws of Hawaii 2002, as amended.

The Department of the Attorney General, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Mayor of the County of Kaua‘i, Mayor of the County of Maui, Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, Council Chair of the County of Maui, Kaua‘i Fire Department, Department of the Corporation Counsel of the City and County of Honolulu, Ocean Safety Division of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce, Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, Kauai Lifeguard Association, Poipu Beach Resort Association, and an individual testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Association for Justice testified in opposition of this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2234 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair