HB2331

PART I

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that disaster recovery is a complex and long-term process that involves a range of activities and many participants. Recovery begins shortly after the disaster occurs and can continue for many years. It involves short-term restoration of essential community functions and long-term resilient rebuilding. It also incorporates hazard mitigation as restoration and rebuilding take place.

State, public, and private organizations share in providing for the public's health and safety. It is essential that the response, recovery, and mitigation activities of all parties be fully aligned. The purpose of this Act is to enhance the capacity of the government, relevant agencies, and the community to recover from the impacts of disasters and build resilience and sustainability by establishing the long-term recovery authority to work with the state disaster recovery coordinator, whose position was funded through the governor's executive budget in 2019.

SECTION 2. Chapter 127A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding new sections to be appropriately designated and to be read as follows:

"§127A- Long-term recovery authority; general functions, duties, and powers. (a) There is established the long-term recovery authority under the Hawaii emergency management agency whose purpose is to:

(1) Recommend policy decisions and set strategic direction for resilient recovery planning;

(2) Develop legislative recommendations to further recovery goals;

(3) Approve administrative decisions of the state disaster recovery coordinator; and

(4) Facilitate the identification, coordination, and delivery of recovery assistance to supplement resources and efforts by local governments and citizens.

(b) The long-term recovery authority shall be flexible in size and composition to meet the requirements of the situation and integrate personnel from all relevant entities.

(d) The long-term recovery authority shall include the following members:

(1) The adjutant general, or designee;

(2) The administrator of the Hawaii emergency management agency, or designee;

(3) The state coordinating officer, or designee for active disasters;

(4) The director of finance, or designee;

(5) County mayors, or designees; and

(6) The directors, or their designee, of state departments or agencies for each of the recovery support function primary agencies.

(e) In addition to the members listed in subsection (d), the state disaster recovery coordinator may designate participation or input from members of the public, experts in the field, other government officials, and others as necessary.

(f) At the discretion of the state disaster recovery coordinator, non-state government entity members of the long-term recovery authority may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in carrying out their duties.

(g) The long-term recovery authority shall not be subject to the requirements of part I of chapter 92.

§127A- State disaster recovery coordinator; general functions, duties, and powers. The state disaster recovery coordinator shall report to the governor and support and convene the long-term recovery authority, and shall:

(1) Establish and maintain recovery priorities and strategy on behalf of the governor;

(2) Convene and provide executive level coordination for local, state, and federal agencies working on disaster recovery programs and budgets;

(3) Facilitate disaster recovery collaboration between the local, state, and federal governments, the private sector, and voluntary, faith-based, and community organizations;

(4) Serve as a state point of contact with federal agencies with the supervising federal recovery officer;

(5) Develop a budget and operating procedures to fulfill duties and administer the long-term recovery authority; and

(6) Review recovery plans, policies, and decisions as required by this section and submit a report to the governor, the legislature, and the counties no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2021 and every year thereafter."

SECTION 3. Section 127A-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

""Recovery support functions" means as defined by the national disaster recovery framework that establishes six key functional areas for coordination: community planning and capacity building; economic, health, and social services; housing; infrastructure; and natural and cultural resources."

PART II

SECTION 4. The office of the governor shall establish two full-time equivalent positions, without regard to chapters 76 and 89, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to support the state disaster recovery coordinator and the long-term recovery authority to carry out the purposes of this Act. The positions shall include two planners.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $550,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2021-2022 for the Hawaii emergency management agency to support the governor's state disaster recovery coordinator as an operating budget for the purpose of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of the governor for the purposes of this Act.

PART III

SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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BY REQUEST

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2331
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII