STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3403

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1588

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1588, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAZARD MITIGATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Ensure that the State is ready to receive federal funds from the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act by establishing the Resilient Hawaii Revolving Loan Fund;

 

     (2)  Appropriate funds for the Resilient Hawaii Revolving Loan Fund; and

 

     (3)  Establish and appropriate funds for two positions within the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to provide administrative support associated with the Resilient Hawaii Revolving Loan Fund.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and Department of Human Services.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committee finds that as major natural disasters become more prevalent, it becomes more important for the State to leverage as many federal funding opportunities as possible to mitigate against and prepare for their impacts.  This measure will allow the State to take advantage of federal capitalization grants to move toward future sustainability and resilience and will align with the State's overall efforts to combat and prepare for the effects of climate change.

 

     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 H.B. No. 1588, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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,

 

 

 

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair