STAND. COM. REP. NO 3025

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2365

       H.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2365, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize:

     (1)  The State Fire Council to establish statewide qualifications and procedures for testing, certifying, and credentialing that conform with the adopted State Fire Code and nationally recognized standards, for individuals conducting maintenance testing of fire extinguishers, fire protection systems, and fire alarm systems;

     (2)  The State Fire Council to develop, implement, and coordinate a statewide system to promote the effective use of fire and life safety resources;

     (3)  County fire departments to administer the testing, certifying, and credentialing process that is established by the State Fire Council and to determine and charge reasonable certification fees; and

     (4)  The State Fire Council to adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the purposes of section 132-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, Maui Fire Department, and one individual.

     Your Committees find that fire extinguishers and fire protection and fire alarm systems require routine maintenance to ensure reliable operability when used by fire department personnel and to protect building occupants during emergency situations.  Individuals that conduct maintenance testing must be licensed; however, the current exam has not been revised for several years.  This measure will allow the State Fire Council to implement a statewide system, to be administered by the county fire departments who may establish and collect certification fees, to promote the effective use of fire and life safety resources and to establish statewide qualifications and standards for testing and credentialing that conform to the adopted State Fire Code and nationally recognized standards for maintenance testing of fire safety systems.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2365, H.D. 1 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Commerce and Consumer Protection,

____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair