STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1839

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1064

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1064, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve fire protection.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Effectuates the recommendations of the "Phase 3" forward-looking report by the Fire Safety Research Institute;

(2) Establishes the State Fire Marshal Selection Commission; and

(3) Establishes the Office of the State Fire Marshal under the Department of Defense and repeals the existing provision establishing the Office of the State Fire Marshal within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor, Department of the Attorney General, Department of Defense, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, AARP Hawaii, Hawaii Climate Advisory Team, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, Lahaina Strong, Wildlife Safety Advocates of Waikoloa, and nine individuals.

Your Committees received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, and one individual.

Your Committees find that, through implementation of the recommendations of the Fire Safety Research Institute, the State will improve its preparedness and response to wildfires, enhance the authority and effectiveness of the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and ensure better coordination between state and local agencies. Your Committees further find that the restructuring accomplished by this measure will help the State address fire safety issues more efficiently, ultimately protecting lives, property, and resources.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the status of the term of employment of the initial State Fire Marshal under this measure shall not be affected on January 1, 2026, when the State Fire Marshal Selection Commission is established;

(2) Setting the salary of the State Fire Marshal equal to the salary of the Director of Human Resources Development;

(3) Moving the Office of the State Fire Marshal and attaching the State Fire Council and the Fire Marshal Selection Commission to the Department of Law Enforcement;

(4) Changing all other references to the Department of Defense to the Department of Law Enforcement;

(5) Clarifying that designated officials are authorized to inspect state facilities;

(6) Appropriating moneys for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position in the Office of the State Fire Marshal for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027;

(7) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion of the measure; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1064, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1064, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair