HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1914

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to disaster preparedness.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that in 2018, Hurricane Lane, a category three hurricane, almost hit Oahu.  According to a subsequent Pacific Disaster Center study, if a category two hurricane hit Oahu, fifty-two thousand homes would be destroyed and $27,000,000,000 in damages would be incurred.  Further, according to a hurricane behavioral study published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Army Corps of Engineers, and Hawaii Emergency management Agency, many residents in the State have a false sense of security, leading to a lack of disaster preparedness, including a lack of emergency supplies or properly prepared homes.  The study also stated that of its 2,488 survey respondents, forty-three per cent recommended increasing communication, education, and outreach, and thirteen per cent recommended assisting in preparing homes for disasters.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require and appropriate moneys to certain county and state agencies to hire full-time equivalent outreach, education, or volunteerism specialists to conduct disaster preparedness outreach and education initiatives.

     SECTION 2.  The civil defense agency of the county of Hawaii, department of emergency management of the city and county of Honolulu, emergency management agency of the county of Kauai, emergency management agency of the county of Maui, Hawaii emergency management agency, and university of Hawaii shall each hire one full-time equivalent outreach, education, or volunteerism specialist who shall conduct systematic disaster preparedness outreach and education initiatives by utilizing both traditional and non-traditional outreach and education strategies, including but not limited to the following:

     (1)  The use of:

          (A)  Voluntary and mandatory education;

          (B)  Continuing education credits for professionals;

          (C)  School curriculum to educate principals, teachers, students, and parents; and

          (D)  Local, state, and federal partnerships to provide financial assistance programs to homeowners to retrofit their homes;

     (2)  Increasing the number of community emergency response team volunteers;

     (3)  Creating additional Hawaii hazards awareness resilience program communities;

     (4)  Increasing the use of mass media for public communication, education, and outreach, including television, radio, and newspapers; and

     (5)  Working with the legislature to effectively monitor and implement communication, education, and outreach efforts to cultivate a culture of preparedness in the State.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 as a grant-in-aid to the county of Hawaii to hire one full time equivalent (1.0 FTE) outreach, education, or volunteerism specialist within the civil defense agency of the county of Hawaii pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the county of Hawaii for the purpose of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 as a grant-in-aid to the city and county of Honolulu to hire one full time equivalent (1.0 FTE) outreach, education, or volunteerism specialist within the department of emergency management of the city and county of Honolulu pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the city and county of Honolulu for the purpose of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 as a grant-in-aid to the county of Kauai to hire one full time equivalent (1.0 FTE) outreach, education, or volunteerism specialist within the emergency management agency of the county of Kauai pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the county of Kauai for the purpose of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 as a grant-in-aid to the county of Maui to hire one full time equivalent (1.0 FTE) outreach, education, or volunteerism specialist within the emergency management agency of the county of Maui pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the county of Maui for the purpose of this Act.

     SECTION 7.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 to hire one full time equivalent (1.0 FTE) outreach, education, or volunteerism specialist pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii emergency management agency for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 8.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 to hire one full time equivalent (1.0 FTE) outreach, education, or volunteerism specialist with the university of Hawaii sea grant college program pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 9.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

HEMA; UH; Counties; Disaster Preparedness; Appropriations

 

Description:

Requires the Civil Defense Agency of the County of Hawaii, Department of Emergency Management of the City and County of Honolulu, Emergency Management Agency of the County of Kauai, Emergency Management Agency of the County of Maui, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and University of Hawaii to each hire one full-time equivalent outreach, education, or volunteerism specialist to conduct disaster preparedness outreach and education initiatives.  Appropriates moneys.

 

 

 

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