STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2122

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 788

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 788 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISASTER RELIEF,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation for the state civil defense major disaster fund.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Department of Defense.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii is vulnerable to a tsunami or hurricane disaster and recognizes the importance of remaining vigilant in protecting its residents and guests from these disasters.  In view of lessons learned from the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia and Hurricane Katrina in Florida in 2005, and because these natural disasters pose a great potential to cause vast devastation to Hawaii, the Legislature deems it vitally important to ensure that the State is adequately prepared to deal with these disasters.  While state and private agencies have made great strides in becoming capable of responding to a tsunami or hurricane disaster, more resources are needed to upgrade and decrease coverage gaps in the existing warning systems.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding an appropriation for state civil defense for emergency supply caches and the state civil defense emergency supply program; and

     (2)  Extending to June 30, 2009, the sunset of Act 118, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, which makes appropriations for emergency relief for natural disasters.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 788, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 788, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair