STAND. COM. REP. NO. 416

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 141

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 141 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) Establish the eighth day of August of each year as "Hawaii Disaster Drill Day"; and

(2) Require the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with all state departments and agencies, to conduct drills and perform other activities for that day.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency and two individuals.

Your Committees find that the State faces a variety of natural hazards, including hurricanes, tsunamis, wildfires, and volcanic eruptions. It is imperative that state agencies and local communities continually enhance the ability to respond to these disasters, both individually and collectively. This measure will help to ensure that residents are well-prepared for any emergency by establishing Hawaii Disaster Drill Day. Conducting annual drills on this designated day will foster a culture of preparedness, educate the public on critical safety measures, and enhance the coordination between state, county, federal, and private entities.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective on July 1, 2025; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Transportation and Culture and the Arts that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 141, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 141, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair

________________________________ BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair