STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1564

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 655

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 655, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDIA ACCESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow the news media to access closed emergency areas under certain circumstances.

     Among other things, this measure:

     (1)  Allows a duly authorized representative of any news service, newspaper, radio station, television station, or online news distribution network, under certain conditions, to enter an area closed pursuant to the emergency management powers of the Governor or Mayors, if providing media access is reasonable, safe, and does not hinder ongoing response and recovery activities;

     (2)  Limits the liability of the State and counties arising from media representatives entering a closed emergency area; and

     (3)  Specifies that the State, counties, and designated emergency management officials are not responsible for providing logistical support to news media accessing closed emergency areas.  

The Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Department of Emergency Management of the City and County of Honolulu, and an individual supported this measure.  The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency supported the intent of this measure.  The Hawaii Association for Justice provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting the provision specifying that the State and counties shall not be held liable for any injury or damage to a person or property resulting from media representatives entering a closed emergency area.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 655, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 655, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO, Chair