STAND. COM. REP. NO. 847-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2174

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2174, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Repeal the existing conditions under which government entities may seek reimbursement for search or rescue expenses and instead require a government entity of the State to impose and collect a fee for search or rescue expenses for persons who require rescue after leaving a hiking trail to enter an area closed to the public or hiking on a trail closed to the public, with a sign giving notice of the closure; and

(2) Require a report or documentation of the search and rescue to be submitted to the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Fire Council; Maui Fire Department; and one individual.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2174, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair