STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3377

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2302

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 Higher Education and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2302, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the continued operation and disaster preparedness outreach efforts of the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from University of Hawai‘i System, Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency, Hawai‘i State Public Library System, Maui Emergency Management Agency, and three individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that continued education of Hawaii's people on emergency preparedness allows residents and the State to prepare for, mitigate against, and recover from disasters. Emergency preparedness education such as the Homeowner's Handbook to Prepare for Natural Disasters, prepared by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and the University of Hawaii College Sea Grant Program, are vital to the safety and resiliency of the State. The most recent fourth edition of the Handbook provides crucial information regarding options on home retrofit, evacuation planning guidance, and sections on volcanoes and climate change. As Hawaii continues to experience the impacts from climate change, sea level rise, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events, there is a greater need to continue crucial partnerships with emergency management and civil defense agencies across the State and at the county level to make Hawaii's communities more resilient and to develop a culture of emergency preparedness.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2302, 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 Higher Education and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair