STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2444

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2284

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 Higher Education and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2284 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A WILDFIRE FORECAST SYSTEM FOR HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a two-year program at the University of Hawaii to develop a wildfire forecast system for the State using artificial intelligence; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System and Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Maui Chamber of Commerce.

Your Committees find that preparedness of first responders enables the State to take proactive measures such as evacuation planning and home risk mitigation in the event of natural disasters and other acute emergencies. The reporting of accurate data from early detection systems can help reduce the total area burned and mitigate overall impacts of wildfire through rapid response and suppression efforts. This measure will enhance emergency management and preparedness procedures to better protect the State against future emergencies.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language specifying that this measure is a matter of statewide concern; and

(2) 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 Higher Education and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2284, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2284, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair