THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2184
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in 1979, the state fire marshal's office was abolished and the state fire council was established. The state fire council consists of the four county fire chiefs and is administratively attached to the department of labor and industrial relations. The state fire council is responsible for adopting the state fire code, administering federal fire-related grants, coordinating statewide fire training, collecting data, and establishing contingency planning needs for firefighters.

The legislature further finds that the state fire council has the authority to establish statewide qualifications for testing, certifying, and credentialing individuals who perform maintenance and testing of portable fire extinguishers, fire protection systems, and fire alarm systems. The council advises the governor and the legislature on fire prevention and protection and is represented by a voting member on the state building code council.

From 1979 to 2001, the state fire council had no funding for staff and relied heavily upon county personnel to accomplish its responsibilities. In 2001, the governor directed the department of labor and industrial relations to allocate $35,000 to fund the state fire council's first employee. In 2011, the legislature appropriated an additional $71,000 for the state fire council to hire two additional employees. In 2014, a program specialist was hired to administer the reduced ignition propensity cigarette program despite no foreseeable budgetary increases. Therefore, the legislature finds that the state fire council would greatly benefit from additional personnel so that it may promote statewide fire and life safety activities.

The purpose of this Act is to authorize the expenditure of moneys collected from the reduced ignition propensity cigarette fees to fund fire and life safety programs.

SECTION 2. Section 132C-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§132C‑9[]] Reduced ignition propensity cigarette program special fund. (a) There is established in the state treasury a reduced ignition propensity cigarette program special fund, into which shall be deposited all moneys collected by the state fire council from the reduced ignition propensity cigarette program pursuant to section 132C-4. All interest earned or accrued on moneys deposited in the fund shall become part of the fund.

(b) Moneys in the reduced ignition propensity cigarette program special fund shall be administered and expended by the state fire council to defray the actual cost of fire and life safety programs and activities [and requirements of section 132C-4,] of the council, including employing one full-time administrator and one full-time assistant [whose duties include:] or other part-time personnel.

(c) The duties of the state fire council shall include:

(1) Adopting administrative rules for program implementation, establishing compliance inspections, and approving forms and enforcement procedures and guidelines;

(2) Receiving certifications for approximately six hundred different brands and styles of cigarettes from the manufacturers;

(3) Compiling a list of the cigarette brands and styles for which manufacturers have submitted certifications, verifying tax stamp compliance with the department of the attorney general, and posting the list of certified brands and styles on a state website for informational purposes only;

(4) Reviewing and approving, as needed, any alternative test methods or fire standard compliance markings submitted by the manufacturer; and

(5) If needed, submitting certified cigarettes to an accredited laboratory for testing to verify that performance standards have been met."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2050.

Report Title:

State Fire Council Package; Reduced Ignition Propensity Cigarette Fees

Description:

Authorizes the State Fire Council to expend moneys in the Reduced Ignition Propensity Cigarette Program Special Fund to defray the actual cost of the Council's fire and life safety programs and activities and to employ additional personnel. (SB2184 HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.