STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2730

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2129

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2129 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 State Fire Council to administer and expend funds from the reduced ignition propensity cigarette program special fund to support statewide fire prevention and safety programs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, Hawai‘i Fire Department, Kaua‘i Fire Department, and Maui Fire Department.

Your Committee finds that the State Fire Council has largely been underfunded since its inception in 1979. The State Fire Council has a wide range of responsibilities, such as reviewing and maintaining the state fire code, coordinating the collection of fire data, and supporting contingency planning for firefighters. Despite their array of responsibilities, the State Fire Council received no funding for staff personnel to fulfill its extensive responsibilities until 2001. 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 is reducing the Council's effectiveness and that more funding will allow the Council to support statewide fire prevention and safety programs.

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. 2129 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