STAND. COM. REP. NO. 970

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 193

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 193 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to broaden the expertise of the State Fire Council.

More specifically, the measure adds to the membership of the State Fire Council, and to the membership of advisory committees that the Council may appoint, representatives from the Hawaii State Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Unit and the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, State Fire Council, and Honolulu Fire Department.

Your Committee finds that this measure's addition of members to the State Fire Council ensures that the Council's membership appropriately reflects all non‑federal firefighting agencies in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying in the measure's preamble that the State Fire Council is required, rather than authorized, to establish statewide qualifications for testing, certifying, and credentialing individuals who maintain and test fire safety equipment and systems; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 193, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 193, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair