STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1033

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 572

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 572, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Specify that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is an administratively attached agency to, rather than established within, the Department of Defense;

 

     (2)  Specify that the Administrator of Emergency Management shall serve as the Director of Hawaii Emergency Management and require the Administrator to report directly to the Governor; and

 

     (3)  Require the current Administrator of Emergency Management to serve until such time that the Governor appoints another Administrator.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

 

     Your Committee finds that under existing law, the Administrator of Emergency Management is appointed by the Director of Hawaii Emergency Management, who is the Adjutant General.  Your Committee believes that given the importance of the responsibility of the Administrator of Emergency Management and their role in protecting the State and its residents, particularly during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the Governor is the more appropriate appointing authority.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 572, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair