STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3928

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2120

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2120, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to facilitate emergency management within the State.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Clarifies current practices, policies, and procedures of the state emergency management program and updates it with prevailing best practices for emergency management; and

(2) Includes environmental impacts within the scope of emergency matters.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Defense, Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species (CGAPS).

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Emergency Management, City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, other recent events, and environmental concerns have demonstrated the need to make the State's emergency management practices, policies, and procedures consistent with prevailing emergency management best practices.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2120, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2120, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair