Committee restores commission role in SB 2645 after agency testimony

The Committee on Public Safety advanced Senate Bill 2645, which makes multiple changes to state fire-prevention law, including restoring the commission process for selecting the state fire marshal.

Chair (Committee on Public Safety) opened the hearing and described the bill’s main changes, saying it would "eliminate the state fire commission as part of the process for selecting a state fire marshal" in its prior draft but that the chair’s recommendation in the decision session was to "reinstate the commission process" and pass the measure with amendments for clarity and consistency.

Tori Nakata, speaking on behalf of Will Kane, Senior Advisor in the Office of the Governor, stood on the office’s written testimony and provided clarifying comments. Theresa Buchanan, representing the State Fire Council, said the council historically generated the position description, screened applicants, and selected the state fire marshal and that current legislation places the council in an advisory capacity; she said the bill would change that relationship. Michael Walker, a protection forester with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, told the committee that DLNR supports amendments to chapters and sections listed in the bill but opposes the provision that would change the marshal nomination process from a committee selection to a governor appointment.

Committee members questioned how the State Fire Council and the fire marshal currently interact; council representatives said the council includes county fire chiefs and related fire-rescue leadership and collaborates on appointments and legislation. After member questioning and technical edits for clarity, the committee recessed for an 11:00 a.m. decision session.

When members reconvened, the chair recommended adopting an amendment to restore the commission appointment process and offered technical edits to style and effective dates. The committee’s vice chair called the roll on the motion to pass SB 2645 SD 3 with amendments; the chair’s recommendation was adopted.

The bill passed out of committee with amendments and a deferred effective date to 07/01/3000 to allow for final technical fixes.

The committee’s next step is to forward the amended bill for further consideration by subsequent committees. No legal implementation date was finalized beyond the committee’s deferment.