Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1343 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Defense to ensure that all emergency shelters in the State are equipped with windows and doors that conform to federal hurricane damage mitigation standards.

Your Committee finds that the windows and doors are the most critical structures of an emergency shelter. Secure windows and doors prevent the detachment of the roof due to extreme wind conditions. Your Committee further finds that Hawaii's geographic isolation increases the need for secure emergency shelters. Residents and tourists cannot simply run away from the storm. They must seek shelter somewhere.

Your Committee has amended this measure by appropriating the funds out of the hurricane reserve trust fund rather than the general fund. Your Committee has also amended this measure by amending the laws relating to the Hawaii hurricane relief fund to authorize such an appropriation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1343, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1343, S.D. 1.