CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 34-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2014

RE:    S.B. No. 2300

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2300, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the State Fire Council to:

     (1)  Establish statewide qualifications and procedures for testing, certifying, and credentialing individuals who perform maintenance and testing of portable fire extinguishers, fire protection systems, and fire alarm systems; provided that the county fire departments may establish and charge reasonable certification fees;

     (2)  Develop, implement, and coordinate a statewide system to promote the effective use of fire and life safety resources; and

     (3)  Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the purposes of section 132-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that fire safety 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 update and establish statewide standards for the maintenance and testing of fire safety systems.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing language that would have allowed the State Fire Council to implement a statewide system to encourage the effective use of fire and life safety resources;

     (2)  Amending section 1 to reflect the amended findings and purpose of this measure;

     (3)  Changing the effective date to upon approval; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2300, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2300, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Co-Chair	____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair
____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Co-Chair