Bill Text: HI SB2142 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 2142

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Wildfire Mitigation.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-07 - The committee on PSM deferred the measure. [SB2142 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SB2142-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2142
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to wildfire mitigation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State recognizes the increasing threat of wildfires to our communities, natural resources, and economy, and that the State is committed to proactively addressing this growing challenge through a comprehensive and collaborative approach. Understanding the need for a multifaceted strategy, the legislature further finds that a working group comprised of government agencies, fire experts, economists, legal experts, industry leaders, large landowners, and stakeholders is required to find solutions that address the State's wildfire preparedness and mitigation challenges and increase the State's wildfire preparedness and mitigation practices.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a wildfire mitigation working group.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established a wildfire mitigation working group to:

(1) Develop a system of state tax incentives, penalties, and state-level funding support for managing land to adequately reduce fire risk;

(2) Chart a plan for retrofitting unsafely designed subdivisions to have adequate evacuation routes;

(3) Chart the State's course to increase workforce development in land management and wildfire mitigation sectors;

(4) Work with industry leaders and unions to improve ignition-resistant building strategies that are both safe and cost-effective;

(5) Integrate food security and climate resilience initiatives with wildfire prevention, safety, and resilience work; and

(6) Identify funding sources and launch a state-level competitive grant funding opportunity to support fuels management on private lands.

(b) The working group shall be comprised of the following members:

(1) The chairperson of the state fire council, who shall serve as co-chair;

(2) The director of the office of planning and sustainable development, who shall serve as co-chair;

(3) The chair of the house of representatives standing committee on water and land;

(4) The chair of the senate standing committee on water and land;

(5) The chairperson of the Hawaiian homes commission or their designee;

(6) The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources or their designee;

(7) The director of transportation or their designee;

(8) The director of taxation or their designee;

(9) The airports rescue fire chief from the airports division of the department of transportation;

(10) A representative from the land division of the department of land and natural resources;

(11) A fire protection forester from the wildfire management branch of the division of forestry and wildlife within the department of land natural resources;

(12) The fire chief of each county;

(13) An economist from the university of Hawaii economic research organization, to be selected by the executive director of the university of Hawaii economic research organization;

(14) An economist from the university of Hawaii at Manoa, to be selected by the president of the university of Hawaii at Manoa;

(15) An economist from the university of Hawaii at Hilo, to be selected by the chancellor of the university of Hawaii at Hilo;

(16) A wildfire expert from each county, to be invited by the chairperson of the state fire council;

(17) A representative of the ranching industry, to be invited by the chairperson of the state fire council;

(18) A representative of the Hawaii wildfire management organization, to be invited by the chairperson of the State fire council;

(19) A representative of the public, to be invited by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(20) A representative of the public, to be invited by the president of the senate.

(c) No member of the working group shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of that member's participation on the working group.

(d) The office of planning and sustainable development shall provide administrative support as required by the working group.

(e) The working group shall submit a complete report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than thirty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2026.

SECTION 3. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. This current declaration takes into account general fund appropriations authorized for fiscal year 2024-2025 in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act only. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

(1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the administrative expenses of the wildfire mitigation working group established by section 2 of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of planning and sustainable development for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

OPSD; Wildfire Mitigation Working Group; Report; Expenditure Ceiling; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the Wildfire Mitigation Working Group. Requires a report to the Legislature. Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to provide administrative support to the working group. Makes an appropriation.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.