STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2248

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2145

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2145 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the counties to submit annual reports on fire code enforcement updates and fire mitigation planning to the Legislature.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Fire Council and Honolulu Fire Department.

Your Committees find that the August 2023 Maui wildfires, identified as the worst natural disaster in Hawaii's history, caused significant loss of life, property damage, and environmental harm, underscoring the necessity for comprehensive and proactive measures at both the state and county level to address the threat of wildfires. Your Committees further find that it is essential to establish a framework for enhanced collaboration and accountability between the State and the counties to ensure that county zoning and development plans prioritize fire safety. This measure will foster resilient and fire-safe communities to ensure Hawaii's communities are prepared and adequately protected in future wildfire threats and events.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have appropriated an unspecified amount for grant-in-aid to the counties for annual reports on county fire code enforcement efforts;

(2) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2042, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2145, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2145, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair