STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1068

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 990

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 990, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish in the Department of Transportation:

 

     (1)  An Office of Disaster Preparedness and having the Director of Disaster Preparedness develop a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan for the State; and

 

     (2)  A Disaster Preparedness Commission to advise and assist the Director of the Office of Disaster Preparedness.

 

     This measure also makes an appropriation to the Department of Transportation for the Office of the Director of Disaster Preparedness and the Disaster Preparedness Commission, including the hiring of necessary staff.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of and in opposition to this measure, as well as a comment.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     The disaster preparedness plan would include:

 

     (1)  The identification of natural hazards;

 

     (2)  The designation of natural hazard impact zones;

 

     (3)  Priorities for natural hazard mitigation;

 

     (4)  Policies, requirements, and incentives to mitigate the problems caused by natural hazards, to be incorporated into rules such as county building codes, land use policies, and retrofitting incentives such as tax credits; and

 

     (5)  Plans for best responses to disasters to minimize costs and protect the interests of residents, their possessions, and pets, and visitors to the state, including plans ensuring the reliability of communication networks and power supplies for major state airports, health care facilities, disaster shelters, and other essential services.

 

     The Disaster Preparedness Commission duties would include:

 

     (1)  Gathering information about disasters that have occurred in the past; and

 

     (2)  Establishing advisory committees to provide technical and other support to the Director of the Office of Disaster Preparedness.

 

     The State has experienced threats from natural disasters, such as, earthquakes, tsunami, and storms.  Your Committees find that proper planning is critical to the safety and welfare of the public and their property in times of disaster.  The establishment of the Office of Disaster Preparedness could be a productive means to coordinate the safety and protection of life and property.  This measure would assist homeowners and businesses to be prepared in the event of natural disasters and will prevent wide spread catastrophes or destruction that was experienced in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting references to the Department of Transportation and leaving unspecified the name of the department in which the Office of Disaster Preparedness shall be placed for administrative purposes;

 

     (2)  Placing a representative of the Judiciary on the Disaster Preparedness Commission;

 

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to continue the discussions on this matter; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 990, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 990, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs,

 

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair

 

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair