THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2725
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State's emergency public shelter inventory consists primarily of department of education facilities, which may need to be retrofitted to withstand hurricane force winds.

The legislature further finds that the existing emergency public shelter inventory lacks enough floor space to meet the State's shelter requirements, based on a calculation of ten square feet per person. Due to the limited space available at emergency public shelters, state and county agencies have recommended retrofitting residential homes and commercial buildings to serve as emergency shelters, specifically homes and buildings constructed after 1995 that are outside of flood or tsunami evacuation zones. This would enable more residents to shelter in place or with family members or neighbors.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the Hawaii emergency management agency to retrofit residential homes and buildings identified by the administrators or directors of the county emergency management agencies in coordination with property owners as suitable for use as shelters for the public.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $5,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for a hurricane shelter retrofit program; provided that

$           of the appropriation may be used to fund one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position in the Hawaii emergency management agency for a hurricane shelter retrofit program director.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii emergency management agency for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Hurricane Shelter Retrofit Program; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Hawaii emergency management agency to retrofit residential homes and buildings identified by the administrators or directors of the county emergency management agencies in coordination with property owners as suitable for use as shelters of the public.

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