STAND. COM. REP. NO. 959

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 144

       H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 144, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MITIGATION OF HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS STATEWIDE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to reauthorize an appropriation that is scheduled to lapse on June 30, 2017, and appropriate funds for mitigating hazardous situations statewide.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and Department of Emergency Management, City and County of Honolulu.

     Your Committee finds that the Governor's ability to authorize designated state employees, agents, contractors, or representatives to enter private property at reasonable times to mitigate situations deemed by the Governor to be hazardous to the health and safety of the public, even in the absence of an emergency or disaster pursuant to section 127A-18, Hawaii Revised Statutes, has been an effective program for mitigating hazards within the State.  Funding for this program in the amount of $1,000,000 was appropriated by the 2014 executive supplemental budget.  However, this funding will lapse on June 30, 2017.  Therefore, it is necessary to reauthorize the remaining funds available for the program.

     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 H.B. No. 144, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair