STAND. COM. REP. NO. 457

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1158

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.B. No. 1158, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREFIGHTING AT COMMERCIAL HARBORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to limit the civil liability of individuals who render firefighting services with a firefighting vessel, upon reasonable command, at any of the State's commercial harbors or roadsteads, any commercial harbor or waterfront improvement belonging to or controlled by the State, or any vessel within a commercial harbor or roadstead to only damages resulting from the individual's gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation.

Your Committee finds that this measure provides legal protection to private individuals who can assist county fire departments in certain situations by limiting their liability, except for damages resulting from gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1158, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair