STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1372

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 329

H.D. 1

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 Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 329, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISASTER RELIEF,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the Kauai flooding disaster relief appropriation made in Act 12, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, to include flood mitigation measures;

(2) Extend the lapse date of the appropriation to June 30, 2020; and

(3) Exempt the appropriation from certain restrictions on transfers of or changes to appropriations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Department of Transportation; Department of Land and Natural Resources; City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management; County of Kaua‘i Office of the Mayor; United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that Kauai experienced torrential rains and flooding that resulted in significant damage to the island in April 2018. Additionally, the Department of Land and Natural Resources sustained substantial damage to its facilities on Kauai from these flooding events. Your Committee further finds that the devastation from the floods is ongoing and that there is a clear and present need for an extension to the appropriation. Your Committee also finds that this measure includes a provision for mitigation measures that is expected to enhance the effective use of the relief resources to achieve the appropriation’s intent and help reduce harm from future flooding events.

Your Committee has amended this measure by adopting language offered by the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management to similarly amend another appropriation included in Act 12, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, for flooding disaster relief in areas of the State other than the County of Kauai, to include flood mitigation measures, extend the lapse date to June 30, 2020, and exempt the appropriation from certain restrictions on transfers of or changes to appropriations.

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. 329, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 329, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, 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