Report Title:

State Fire Council

Description:

Allows the State Fire Council to expend federal grant money for the purpose of fire fighting training.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1374

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO THE STATE FIRE COUNCIL.

 

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

SECTION 1. The purpose of this bill is to provide the authority to the state fire council to expend any federal grant money it receives.

SECTION 2. Section 132-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new subsection (c) to read as follows:

"§132-16 State fire council; composition; functions. (a) There is established a state fire council which shall be placed within the department of labor and industrial relations for administrative purposes. The state fire council shall consist of the fire chiefs of the counties. The state fire council may appoint an advisory committee to assist it in carrying out its functions under this chapter. The advisory committee may include the heads of the various county building departments, a licensed architect recommended by the Hawaii Society of the American Institute of Architects, a licensed electrical engineer and a licensed mechanical engineer recommended by the Consulting Engineers Council of Hawaii, a representative of the Hawaii Rating Bureau, a representative of the Hawaii firefighters association, representatives of the county fire departments, and such other members of the public as the state fire council may determine can best assist it. The state fire council shall elect a chairperson from among its members.

(b) In addition to adopting a state fire code pursuant to section 132-3, the state fire council shall serve as a focal point through which all applications to the federal government for federal grant assistance for fire-related projects shall be made.

(c) The state fire council may also:

(1) Appoint advisory committees comprised of representatives from each county fire department to assist in drafting the state fire code and coordinating statewide training, data collection, and contingency planning needs for firefighters; and

(2) Advise and assist the county fire departments where appropriate, may prescribe standard procedures and forms relating to inspections, investigations, and reporting of fires, may approve plans for cooperation among the county fire departments, and may advise the governor and the legislature with respect to fire prevention and protection, life safety, and any other functions or activities for which the various county fire departments are generally responsible.

(d) Upon the receipt of any such federal grants, the state fire council shall administer such fire-related federal grant assistance, including the conducting of training of firefighters."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated from moneys received from federal funds for fire-related projects, the sum of $125,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, and $125,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, to carry out fire-related projects, including firefighting training. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

By Request