STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1484

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 781

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 781, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to increase the State's preparedness for emergencies.

     Specifically, this measure appropriates moneys to the Department of Defense for the development and planning, including a feasibility study, of a statewide fire and emergency training facility.  Additionally, this measure appropriates moneys for a public education campaign on natural disaster preparedness.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the State Fire Council.  The Department of Defense submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that it is necessary to ensure that fire fighters and other emergency first responders throughout the State are prepared to react to natural and manmade disasters that may arise.  The creation of a training facility will help ensure that they receive the necessary training to be adequately prepared for a wide range of disaster scenarios and safety-related tasks.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by removing its contents and replacing it with the text from H.B. No. 625, H.D. 1.  As amended, this measure appropriates $1 for the 2007-2008 fiscal year to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for a consultant feasibility study for a Hawaii state public safety and emergency response training facility.  Your Committee also amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2015, to facilitate further discussion on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 781, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 781, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair