STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3317

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2887

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2887, S.D. 1, 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 enhance the State's preparation for disaster recovery.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes the Long-Term Recovery Authority to develop legislation for, recommend policies regarding, and assist in coordinating disaster recovery efforts in the State;

(2) Establishes the duties of the State Disaster Recovery Coordinator;

(3) Adopts the Federal Emergency Management Agency's definition of "recovery support functions";

(4) Establishes two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions to support the State Disaster Recovery Coordinator and Long-Term Recovery Authority; and

(5) Appropriates moneys to the Office of the Governor.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Defense; Department of Transportation; Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Hawaii State Energy Office; Office of the Governor; and Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that efficient and effective disaster recovery efforts require the coordination of numerous public and private entities. Your Committee believes that establishing the Long-Term Recovery Authority and clarifying the duties of the State Disaster Recovery Coordinator will help to enhance the coordination of all affected stakeholders, mitigate the impacts of disasters, and improve disaster recovery efforts.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the state coordinating officer for active disasters, or the officer's designee, shall be invited to serve on the Long-Term Recovery Authority;

(2) Clarifying the purpose of the appropriation;

(3) Changing the appropriation from $550,000 to an unspecified amount;

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

(5) 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. 2887, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2887, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair