STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3461

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2120

H.D. 1

S.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 Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2120, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify current practices, policies, and procedures of the State Emergency Management Program and make them consistent with prevailing emergency management best practices; and

(2) Highlight the intent of the State, Governor, and emergency management agencies to address environmental and climate impacts on emergency management.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency, Department of Defense, Hawaii State Energy Office, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, and two individuals.

Your Committees find that recent incidents, including the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, have proven that certain elements in chapter 127A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, need to be revised to conform to current emergency management practices, policies, and procedures of the State Emergency Management Program and with prevailing emergency management best practices. Your Committees believe that the updates provided by this measure, which include adding language that highlights the State's, Governor's, and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency's focus on climate and environmental impacts on Hawaii, are important for the safety and security of Hawaii. This measure will ensure that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is adhering to best practices of emergency management and providing the best protection to the citizens of the State by updating existing law to be consistent with current practices, policies, and procedures.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2120, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2120, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, 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 Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair