STAND. COM. REP. NO. 975

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 149

        S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 149, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide the State Fire Council with greater control over hiring personnel and purchasing office equipment and supplies.

 

More specifically, this measure:

 

(1)  Removes the requirement that the State Fire Council hire its administrator and administrative assistant on a full-time basis;

 

(2)  Authorizes the State Fire Council to employ additional staff and contract with any county fire department to employ the Council's staff; and

 

(3)  Requires that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' budget include the State Fire Council's office equipment and supplies.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State Fire Council and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

 

     Your Committee finds that giving the State Fire Council greater flexibility in hiring personnel and providing funding for different types of personnel and office equipment will enable the Council to fulfill its duties and responsibilities more efficiently.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 149, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 149, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair