Report Title:

Prepared Emergency Response Plan Commission; Establishment

Description:

Establishes the Prepared Emergency Response Plan Commission to develop a unified strategy for state, federal, and county mitigation responsibilities and programs and increase preparedness for natural disasters.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

3231

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

establishing a state commission on emergency response.

 

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

SECTION 1. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

PREPARED EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN COMMISSION

"§ -1 Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Commission" means the prepared emergency response plan commission established under section -2.

"Mitigation" means any action taken to reduce or eliminate any long-term risk to human life and property loss or damage from natural hazards and any other event warranting major disaster assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

"Natural hazard" means any fire, flood, tidal wave, volcanic eruption, earthquake, hurricane, landslide, or other naturally occurring cause of property damage or risk to human life.

§ -2 Prepared emergency response plan commission; establishment. (a) There is established a prepared emergency response plan commission within the department of defense for administrative purposes. The commission shall consist of a minimum of eleven members and a maximum of seventeen members appointed in the manner prescribed in section 26-34; provided that the commission shall have at least one member from:

(1) Each of the counties of Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui;

(2) The real estate industry;

(3) The insurance industry;

(4) The financial services industry;

(5) The house of representatives, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(6) The senate, to be appointed by the president of the senate.

The term of office for each member shall be two years. The director of civil defense shall serve as chairperson of the commission.

(b) Each member of the commission shall have experience and an interest in any of the following areas relating to the mitigation of natural hazards:

(1) Environmental studies or protection;

(2) Risk analysis;

(3) Hazard analysis;

(4) Public awareness and education;

(5) Emergency management;

(6) Structural engineering;

(7) Seismology;

(8) Geology;

(9) Public works;

(10) Public utilities;

(11) Insurance;

(12) Planning;

(13) Flood control;

(14) Land utilization;

(15) Waste management;

(16) Sheltering;

(17) Energy;

(18) Construction;

(19) Communications;

(20) Building codes;

(21) Architecture; and

(22) Coastal zone management.

(c) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

§ -3 Duties of commission. The commission shall:

(1) Develop a unified management strategy with recommendations concerning state, federal, and county mitigation responsibilities and programs;

(2) Identify vulnerabilities to various natural hazards and evaluate and prioritize measures to mitigate the risks associated with those hazards;

(3) Assist state and county governments in obtaining funds to implement mitigation projects;

(4) Develop specific goals on a biennial basis and provide status reports to state departments, county governments, and private organizations represented on the commission;

(5) Recommend policy and program changes to federal, state, and county agencies that are involved in mitigation activities;

(6) Develop a comprehensive public awareness program on the activities of the commission, highlighting successful mitigation projects; and

(7) Provide reports to the governor and the legislature on special mitigation activities addressed or completed by the commission.

§ -4 Meetings. All meetings of the commission shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 92."

SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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