STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3306

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 118

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Education, to which was referred S.R. No. 118 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION DEVELOPING HAWAII'S NATIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TRAINING AND CONSULTATION PROGRAM FOR PRIVATE, GOVERNMENTAL, AND NON-PROFIT ENTITIES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON AT‑RISK COMMUNITIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request that the University of Hawaii Natural Disaster Preparedness Training Center include in its work program a component that addresses the needs of Hawaii's at-risk elderly and persons with disabilities.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Disability and Communication Access Board and the University of Hawaii System. 

     Your Committees find that an island state is vulnerable to many types of natural hazards, including floods, earthquakes, and brush fires, and that maximum preparedness is the key to recovery from any such events occurring in the State.  Your Committees further find that state-wide preparedness plans must take into account the special needs of the elderly, persons with disabilities, and those with medical conditions.

     Your Committees have amended this measure and its title to reflect the proper name of the Natural Disaster Preparedness Training Center, and by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 118, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 118, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Education,

____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair	____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair
	____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair