STAND. COM. REP. NO. 930

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 409

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. 409, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support fire prevention efforts within the State.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Appropriates funds for the community fuels reduction project of the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Department of Land and Natural Resources, to support wildfire prevention and hazardous fuel reduction measures; and

(2) Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources, beginning with fiscal year 2025-2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, to establish the project as a separate line item within the Department's budget.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii State Fire Council, Maui Fire Department, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that wildfires are a significant and growing hazard across the State, and that the funding provided by this measure will support efforts by the Department of Land and Natural Resources to reduce hazardous fuels on the landscape that threaten watersheds, adjacent communities, and critical public infrastructure such as power lines and communication facilities.

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. 409, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair