STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2179

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2184

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2184 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the expenditure of monies collected from the reduced ignition propensity cigarette fees to fund fire and life safety programs, including the hiring of part-time personnel by the State Fire Council.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Fire Council and Kaua‘i County Fire Department. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the State Fire Council, which was established in 1979, has largely been underfunded since its inception. The lack of appropriate funding has hindered the Council's ability to effectively carry out its statutory functions. Your Committee finds that the lack of appropriate funding for the Council is reducing its effectiveness and that the Council could benefit from funding for additional personnel to promote statewide fire and life safety activities.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2184 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair