STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2439

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2887

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2887 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Long-Term Recovery Authority to work with the State Disaster Recovery Coordinator to enhance the capacity of the State to recover from the impacts of disasters; and

(2) Appropriate funds to support the State Disaster Recovery Coordinator.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense, Department of Transportation, State Disaster Recovery Coordinator of the Office of the Governor, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and Office of Planning. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office.

Your Committee finds that disaster recovery is a complex and long-term process that involves a broad range of activities and participants. Your Committee further finds that the State is in need of a leading authority to facilitate the identification, coordination, and delivery of recovery assistance during and after a disaster. Preparing for recovery is a continuous process that begins before a disaster, while actual recovery operations begin shortly after the disaster occurs and can continue for many years. Establishing the Long-Term Recovery Authority as the leading authority to deal with long-term recovery will enhance the capacity of the State, relevant agencies, and the community to recover from the impacts of various disasters. This measure will better prepare the State for any future disasters by establishing and appropriating funds for the establishment and operations of the Long-Term Recovery Authority.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 2887, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2887, 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,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair