STAND. COM. REP. NO. 622

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 166

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 S.B. No. 166 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Office of the Governor, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Health for disaster relief and recovery for the County of Hawai‘i.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Agriculture; Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; University of Hawai‘i System; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; and Hawaii Farm Bureau. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the County of Hawai‘i Department of Research and Development.

Your Committee finds that the Kilauea eruption in 2018 permanently altered significant portions of the landscape, communities, and economy of the Island of Hawaii, with financial losses tallying in the hundreds of millions for the county. Your Committee further finds that although the eruption has paused, the Hawaii Volcano Observatory's alert level is "advisory" rather than "normal", reflecting uncertainty that the eruption is over. Your Committee additionally finds that the scale of recovery compounded by the potential risk of further eruptive activity necessitates further resources for disaster relief and recovery.

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 S.B. No. 166 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