STAND. COM. REP. NO. 98

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 680

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 680 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELAND SECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to enact a homeland security law to establish a state Homeland Security Office within the Department of Defense and authorize the establishment of county organizations for homeland security.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Adjutant General, State of Hawaii Department of Defense; Civil Defense Advisory Council; Civil Defense Agency, County of Hawaii; Department of Emergency Management, City and County of Honolulu; Honolulu Police Department, City and County of Honolulu; State Fire Council of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, State of Hawaii; Department of Fire and Public Safety, County of Maui; and several individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that state departments and agencies are performing many missions and tasks to combat terrorism and support homeland security requirements without underlying statutory authority or enabling legislation.  This measure authorizes the counties to establish organizations for homeland security and requires the State to organize these efforts through the establishment of an office dedicated to providing security and responding to terrorism and other threats.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 680 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair