STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2242

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2843

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2843 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 that the Governor's and mayors' emergency management powers shall be consistent with the Hawaii State Constitution and the scope of the comprehensive emergency management plan;

(2) Clarify the powers of the Governor and mayors to extend or terminate a state of emergency; and

(3) Shorten the duration of price control periods from ninety-six hours to seventy-two hours.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency; Hawaiʻi Association of REALTORS; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Retail Merchants of Hawaii; and two individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committees find that the August 8, 2023 Maui wildfires starkly pointed out the necessity for the State to design a comprehensive emergency plan to ensure that the State prepares for, mitigates against, responds to, and recovers from emergencies and minor, major, and catastrophic disasters. According to testimony your Committees received, there is a need for quick and decisive action by leaders in times of emergency. This measure will clarify the roles of the Governor, Legislature, and local mayors in the event of an emergency.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language to allow the Legislature to terminate or extend a state of emergency; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2843, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2843, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair