STAND. COM. REP. NO. 220

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 622

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 622 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE HAWAII CIVIL AIR PATROL,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation to help defray the operational expenses of the Hawaii Civil Air Patrol (Hawaii CAP).

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense, Hawaii CAP, and two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii CAP provides necessary disaster relief, search and rescue, homeland security, and medical emergency transport services to local and national organizations.  Since the early 1950s, the Hawaii CAP has provided tsunami warning services to the State.  The Hawaii CAP flies more than ninety-five per cent of the nation's inland search and rescue missions.  The Hawaii CAP also plays a vital role in disaster relief.  Volunteer members fly disaster relief officials to remote locations and support local, state, and national disaster relief organizations with experienced pilots and personnel.  The Hawaii CAP transports time-sensitive medical materials, blood products, and body tissue.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the civil air patrol depends on state funding to defray its operational expenses, but past budget restrictions have hampered its ability to carry out necessary operations.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 622 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair