STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1677

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.C.R. No. 69

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 69 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL TO CONVENE A VEGETATION MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP TO STUDY, EVALUATE, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REGULATIONS THAT DEFINE PROPERTY OWNER OBLIGATIONS FOR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY TO MITIGATE WILDFIRE RISK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Office of the State Fire Marshal to convene a Vegetation Management Working Group to study, evaluate, and make recommendations for regulations that define property owner obligations for vegetation management on public and private property to mitigate wildfire risk.

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Public Utilities Commission, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, and the Hawaii Forest Industry Association provided testimony in support of this resolution. Your committee received comments from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations on this measure. One individual provided testimony is support.

Your Committee believes that wildfire risks can be mitigated with regulations recommended from the State Fire Marshal's Vegetation Management Working Group that define public and private property owner obligations, but finds that recommendations are also needed to define a line clearance tree trimmer and establish minimum safety standards, training, and qualifications for individuals performing line clearance tree trimming at or near electric utility facilities to prevent hazards. Your committee further finds that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is not the appropriate department to be administratively attached to the Office of State Fire Marshal's Vegetation Management Working Group because DLIR lacks the expertise and also because the Legislature is currently deliberating the Office of the State Fire Marshal's permanent, executive placement.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(2) Requesting the Office of State Marshal and the State Fire Council to undertake the recommendations that define a line clearance tree trimmer and establish minimum safety standards, training, and qualifications for individuals performing line clearance tree trimming at or near electric utility facilities.

(3) Removing "DLIR", "Department of Labor and Industrial Relations", or "Director of Labor and Industrial Relations", and where applicable, adding the language, "whichever department the Office of the State Fire Marshal is administratively attached to".

Your committee further notes the next committee should

consider Kamehameha School's oral testimony that pointed out

vegetation management is the landowner's and the easement holder's responsibility.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 69, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 69, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair