STAND. COM. REP. NO. 396

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 149

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Labor, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 149 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE FIRE COUNCIL,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Authorize the State Fire Council to employ additional staff, contract with any county fire department to fulfill staff positions, and purchase office equipment and supplies; and

 

     (2)  Repeal the requirement that the State Fire Council Administrator and other staff be employed on a full-time basis.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Fire Council, Hawaii Fire Department of the County of Hawaii, Honolulu Fire Department, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Kauai Fire Department, and Maui Fire Department.

 

     Your Committees find that the State Fire Council is composed of the four county fire chiefs and is responsible for a variety of tasks, including adopting the state fire code, applying for and administering federal grant assistance for fire-related projects, appointing advisory committees to coordinate statewide training, data collection, and contingency planning needs for firefighters; advising the Governor and Legislature with respect to fire protection and life safety; and establishing qualifications for the testing and certification of individuals who perform maintenance and testing of portable fire extinguishers, fire protection and fire alarm systems, and private fire hydrants.  This measure provides the State Fire Council with greater flexibility in employing personnel and the authority to expend funds for the purchase of office equipment and supplies.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by 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 Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Labor, Culture and the Arts that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 149, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 149, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Labor, Culture and the Arts,

 

________________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair

 

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair