STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1866

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1305

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1305, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the State and electrical and natural gas utilities to enter into a mutual assistance agreement with an out-of-state utility to assist in the restoration of electrical or natural gas power following a natural disaster or emergency.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Hawai‘i Gas; and O‘ahu County Democrats Committee on Legislative Priorities.

Your Committee finds that after an emergency or natural disaster that has caused damage to electric grids or utility gas infrastructure, urgent repairs are needed to restore utility services to Hawaii customers. Mutual assistance agreements are a mechanism to allow qualified utility workers and employees from out-of-state utilities to assist Hawaii's electric and natural gas utilities with safe and timely restoration efforts. This measure provides certain exemptions and exceptions to laws, rules, regulations, and orders in limited circumstances that may otherwise slow or hinder out-of-state assistance during times of emergency.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2019; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1305, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1305, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair