Report Title:

Civil Defense; Director; Qualifications; Disaster Management

Description:

Establishes minimum qualifications for the position of director of civil defense. Requires the director of civil defense to have disaster management experience.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2797

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to civil defense.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the slow response to ameliorate the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina on the states of Louisiana and Mississippi in September, 2005, uncovered a glaring deficiency in how the federal government screens candidates for key administrative positions in disaster management. It was discovered that the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Administration who was in charge at the time the hurricane hit Louisiana and Mississippi had very little to no real experience in disaster management and preparedness prior to being appointed to lead this crucial disaster management agency.

The legislature believes that, at least on the state level, the responsibility of disaster preparedness and management should not be placed in the hands of a political appointee who lacks the requisite knowledge and experience to safeguard the lives and property of Hawaii's citizens in the event of a natural disaster or other type of emergency situation.

The purpose of this Act is to ensure that the State's director of civil defense possesses sufficient knowledge and experience in disaster preparedness and management so as to ensure that the health and safety of the general public will be safeguarded in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency situation.

SECTION 2. Section 26-21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) The department of defense shall be headed by a single executive to be known as the adjutant general. The adjutant general shall also be the director of civil defense. A candidate for the position of adjutant general shall possess, at a minimum, sufficient management or supervisory experience in disaster management or preparedness protocols so as to provide reasonable assurance that the health and safety of the general public will be safeguarded in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency situation.

There shall be a full-time vice director of civil defense who shall be appointed and may be removed by the director.

The department shall be responsible for the defense of the State and its people from mass violence, originating from either human or natural causes.

The devolution of command of the military forces in the absence of the adjutant general shall be within the military establishment. The devolution of command of the civil defense agency in the absence of the director of civil defense shall be within the civil defense agency."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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