Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2304 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to update Hawaii's civil defense laws to:

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Department of Defense, Department of Human Resources Development, and one individual.

This measure recognizes that federal laws and regulations to mitigate natural and man-made disasters have changed over the years. This measure also extends immunity from liability to healthcare facilities that provide shelter during times of disaster and emergency.

Your Committee finds that this measure is necessary to update Hawaii's civil defense laws to conform to federal law. Your Committee further finds that healthcare facilities need immunity from liability for providing shelter, and that immunity would greatly expand the disaster shelter capacity of the State.

Your Committee notes that the new definitions for "disaster" and "emergency" include references to the Governor's determination so that a triggering event is clearly defined.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2304, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2304, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.