STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR 2 3 2024
RE: H.C.R. No. 124
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and
Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 124 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO CONVENE A SEARCH AND RESCUE WORKING GROUP TO
DEVELOP AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO DETER HIKERS FROM
ENTERING ILLEGAL HIKING TRAILS AND TO ADDRESS RISING SEARCH
AND RESCUE COSTS FACING THE STATE AND COUNTIES DUE TO
INCREASED ILLEGAL HIKING TRAFFIC,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the
Department of Law Enforcement to convene a Search and Rescue
Working Group to develop and make recommendations to deter hikers
from entering illegal hiking trails and to address rising search
and rescue costs facing the State and counties due to increased
illegal hiking traffic.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Law Enforcement and one individual.
Your Committee finds that despite warnings on certain
dangerous trails throughout the State, some individuals and groups
unlawfully enter trails that have been closed to the public due to
safety concerns, ultimately putting themselves at risk of
significant injury and risking damage to native habitats and other
natural resources that may be in those closed areas for
preservation purposes. Your Committee further finds that the
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State and counties incur significant costs associated with the
rescue of hikers who choose to go on illegal hikes and often
ignore signs prohibiting access. Your Committee concludes that it
is critical to develop policies that encourage public safety and
accountability because of the considerable costs associated with
the search and rescue of individuals who willfully disregard the
safety of themselves and others by ignoring warning signs.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military
Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs
with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 124, and recommends its
adoption.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Public Safety and
Intergovernmental and Military
Affairs,
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 The Senate
Thirty-Second Legislature
State of Hawaii
Record of Votes
Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs
PSM
Bill / Resolution No.:* Committee Referral: Date: . >
__ • I
__ The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to:_______________________________
The Recpifnmendation is:
y Pass, unamended __ Pass, with amendments __ Hold __ Recommit
2312 2311 2310 2313
Members Aye Aye (WR) Nay Excused
WAKAI, Glenn (C)
ELEFANTE, Brandon J.C. (VC)
FUKUNAGA, Carol
RHOADS. Karl
AWA, Brenton
TOTAL ■
Recommendation: /
1_\^Adopted __ Not Adopted
Chair’s or Designee’s Signature:
Distribution: Original , Yellow/j y/ Pink Goldenrod
File with Committee Report \Clerk's Drafting Agency Committee File Copy
*Only one measure^er Record of Votes
Revised: 01/09/24