STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1164

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1293

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1293, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to grant the Governor emergency powers to suspend laws that would interfere with the operation of a mutual assistance agreement between a public utility and an out-of-state utility during an emergency or natural disaster.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Hawaii Gas; and Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.

Your Committee finds that lending mutual assistance during emergencies or natural disasters is a common practice among utilities across the United States and its territories.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1293, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1293, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair