STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 141-22
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2022
RE: H.B. No. 1586
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2022
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1586 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISASTER RESPONSE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Repeal language authorizing the Department of Education to retain federal disaster relief funds;
(2) Shorten the time for reporting to the Legislature the purpose of any allotment or expenditure of major disaster funds;
(3) Require federal disaster relief reimbursement monies to be deposited into a trust account of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, with funds to be returned to the general fund upon lapse of the original appropriation; and
(4) Require annual reports to the Legislature on federal reimbursement monies, and disaster response spending by each state agency.
Your Committee finds that the geographic location of the State subjects the islands to many natural disasters such as hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and wild fires. State departments and agencies have previously utilized their funds for disaster response efforts and then apply for federal reimbursement, which can take months or years to process. Your Committee further finds that as a result of the delay in departments receiving federal reimbursement, Act 139, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, was enacted to authorize only the Department of Education to retain any federal reimbursement for disaster relief, regardless if the original appropriation had lapsed. Your Committee recognizes that when a department expends its funds to respond to an emergency situation it may be taking funds from current operating expenses, thereby forcing the department to make cuts or program changes. Your Committee also notes that the years long delay in receiving federal reimbursement makes legislative appropriation and oversight important.
In recognition of this financial strain placed on departments, your Committee recommends a general fund appropriation to the Department of Defense so that state agencies do not have to use their own funds to respond to disasters.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Reinstating the original reporting date requirement to no later than sixty days, rather than thirty days, after the allotment or expenditure of major disaster funds;
(2) Inserting an appropriation of an unspecified amount for the Department of Defense for disaster response;
(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1586, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1586, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Education.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness,
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____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair |
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