Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Government Operations and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 204 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the State and the counties to prioritize expenditure of federal homeland security funds on interoperable communications systems.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, State Department of Defense, and Motorola.

Public safety and emergency response agencies in the State of Hawaii operate radio communication systems on different frequencies of the spectrum allocated for public safety. The use of different frequencies restricts the ability of public safety and emergency response agencies to communicate with one another and can delay the delivery of critical resources during an emergency. An interoperable communication system will allow communications within and among the different public safety and emergency response agencies at the state and local level.

Your Committees find that an interoperable communication system will enable public safety and emergency response personnel to communicate quickly and effectively during an emergency. Federal homeland security funding received by the State of Hawaii and the four counties should be used first and foremost for the development and implementation of a standards-based statewide and countywide system for interoperable communications between first responders of all government jurisdictions.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Government Operations and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 204, and recommend its adoption.