HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

993

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 127A-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:

     "(c)  The [director] administrator may, from funds allotted therefor, employ technical, clerical, administrative, and other personnel and make such expenditures as may be necessary.

     (d)  The [director] administrator shall coordinate the activities of the agency with all county emergency management agencies, other state agencies, other states, or federal agencies involved in emergency management activities, and all organizations for emergency management within the State, whether public or private, and shall maintain liaison and cooperate with all county emergency management agencies, other state agencies, other states, or federal agencies involved in emergency management activities as provided in this chapter."

     SECTION 2.  Section 127A-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (i) to read as follows:

     "(i)  Each county, under the mayor's direction, shall coordinate, develop, and implement [an] a comprehensive emergency [operation] management plan for the county[.] and submit annual reports to the administrator on the status and updates of the plan."

     SECTION 3.  Section 127A-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§127A-6 Emergency management reserve corps.  (a)  The [director] administrator may establish an emergency management reserve corps comprising trained specialists to support state and county emergency [or], disaster, or day to day requirements.  The emergency management reserve corps may include:

     (1)  Any employee of the State or county;

     (2)  Any employee hired specifically for staffing during emergency, disaster, or day to day periods and exercises who shall be hired and compensated without regard to chapters 76, 78, and 88; and

     (3)  Any volunteer,

who shall be detailed in accordance with this chapter.  Emergency management reserve corps positions shall be authorized and managed by the agency and do not need the approval of the governor.

     (b)  The emergency management reserve corps shall support state emergency or disaster requirements and, if requested by a county emergency management agency, supplement the county emergency management agency staff.  The emergency management reserve corps may be mobilized during, or in advance of, emergencies or disasters, or for emergency management [exercises and training events.] day to day activities.  Emergency management reserve corps members shall attend a minimum of [four days] forty hours of paid [training] activities per year."

     SECTION 4.  Section 127A-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§127A-16, Major disaster fund.  (a)  The director shall submit requests to the legislature to appropriate from the general revenues of the State sufficient moneys as may be necessary for expenditure by or under the direction of the governor for immediate relief in response to an emergency or disaster in any part of the State; provided that:

     (1)  The governor has issued a proclamation of a state of emergency;

     (2)  The governor may not expend in excess of [$5,000,000] $         for immediate relief as a result of any single emergency or disaster; and

     (3)  In addition to the funds in paragraph (2), an additional $5,000,000 may be made available solely for the purpose of matching federal disaster relief funds when these funds become available to the State following a presidential disaster declaration.

In expending the moneys, the governor may allot any portion thereof to any agency, office, or employee of the State or a county for the most efficient relief for the population.  Notwithstanding this subsection, the only exception to paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) is that the [director] administrator may use up to [$100,000] $         per year to support emergency management reserve corps [training].

     (b)  No later than [one month] sixty days after any allotment by the governor or the expenditure of any fund moneys, the [director] administrator shall report to the legislature on the purpose of the allotment or expenditure.

     (c)  Except as provided in subsection (d), federal reimbursement moneys for disaster relief shall be deemed to be trust moneys and may be deposited into a trust account with and under the control of the department of defense.  These moneys and any interest earned thereon shall be used for the purpose identified in subsection (a) and shall not lapse to the general fund.

     (d)  In cases in which the department of education expends the funds appropriated to the department for purposes deemed to be reimbursable by federal reimbursement moneys for disaster relief, the federal reimbursement moneys shall not lapse to the general fund and shall be credited directly to the department of education without regard to whether the original appropriation has lapsed.  Such funds shall carry over in accordance with section 37-41.5(c)."

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.


 


 

Report Title:

Emergency Management

 

Description:

To improve and enhance the effectiveness of the State Emergency Management Program through modifications and additions to the Hawaii Revised Statute Chapter 127A.  (HB993 HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.