STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3454

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1587

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 1587, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AN INTRASTATE MUTUAL AID SYSTEM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a system of intrastate mutual aid that will allow counties to provide assistance across jurisdictional lines during emergencies.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency.

Your Committees find that some emergencies are so consequential or urgent that they can overwhelm political jurisdictions and their available resources. In such cases, intergovernmental coordination is essential for the protection of lives and property. Your Committees believe that systems of mutual assistance allow for political jurisdictions to assist in the prevention of, response to, and recovery from, these types of emergencies. This measure will allow for better governmental responses to emergencies by establishing a system of intrastate mutual aid that will allow counties to provide assistance across jurisdictional lines during emergencies.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1587, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Government Operations,

________________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI, Chair

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair