STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3803

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 72

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Government Operations and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 72 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE COUNTIES TO RECOGNIZE 911 EMERGENCY SERVICES DISPATCHERS AS FIRST RESPONDERS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge all the counties to recognize emergency services dispatchers as first responders.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Police Department; State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officer;, Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; and thirty-six individuals.

Your Committees recognize that there is simply no rational basis to not classify 911 emergency services dispatchers as first responders. Your Committees find that 911 emergency services dispatchers are a critical part of the public safety system and play a critical role in emergency response. Your Committees further find that these dispatchers deal with immensely stressful, dynamic, and life-and-death situations on a daily basis. Their duties involve rapid information-gathering and split-second decision-making that affect the safety and well-being of the public, as well as field responders. Accordingly, this measure acknowledges the monumental and integral public safety role served by 911 emergency services dispatchers by urging all the counties to recognize emergency services dispatchers, who receive, dispatch, and respond to 911 calls, texts, and other requests, as first responders in their respective jurisdictions.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Government Operations and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 72 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Government Operations and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI, Chair