STAND. COM. REP. NO. 474

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 956

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness and Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 956 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATEWIDE INTEROPERABLE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Statewide Interoperable Communications Executive Committee and its Coordinator for public safety communications purposes.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, and one individual.

Your Committees find that a formal public safety communications governance body will provide a clear direction for future communications efforts, a framework for impacted parties to collaborate, and the opportunity for effective and efficient use of financial and technology resources. This measure will create a safer environment for residents and visitors of the State during an emergency by establishing the Interoperable Communications Executive Committee to create uniform policies and procedures for first responders and emergency response agencies.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language that requires a report from the Statewide Interoperable Communications Executive Committee to the Legislature prior to the convening of each regular session;

(2) Specifying that the Statewide Interoperable Communications Technical Subcommittee shall:

(A) Not have a fixed membership;

(B) Not be subject to any quorum requirement; and

(C) Be exempt from certain provisions of the Sunshine Law;

(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness and Higher Education & Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 956, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 956, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness and Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair