STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1671

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 73

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 73, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the definition of "emergency worker" in section 707-700, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to include telecommunications dispatchers.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Maui Police Department, Hawaii Police Department, Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii Fire Department, a member of the E911 Board, the Hawaii Government Employees Association, and sixteen individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Health and one individual.

Your Committee recognizes that section 707-712.7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, elevates to a class B felony an assault against an emergency worker during an emergency period. Your Committee finds that, due to the vital role of telecommunications dispatchers in assisting the public during emergencies, classifying these persons as emergency workers would provide telecommunications dispatchers the same enhanced protection that other emergency workers have under the law.

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 H.B. No. 73, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair