Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 25 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) to ensure that all new state public buildings erected in areas not served by a public shelter include a portion of the building designated to serve as a public shelter.

Your Committee finds that many areas of the State do not have a designated public shelter in case of emergencies that threaten the surrounding communities. There is a severe shortage of public shelter space in Hawaii, and the public looks to the State and the counties to open public buildings as shelters during hurricanes, tropical storms, and other natural disasters.

In lieu of constructing actual public shelters, a portion of new public buildings could serve as public shelters if designed and constructed accordingly. Your Committee further finds that this arrangement will be a cost-effective way to provide more suitable public shelters.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 25 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.