STAND. COM. REP. NO. 92

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1211

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1211 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MAJOR DISASTER FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Increase the expenditure ceiling on major disaster fund monies; and

     (2)  Require the Adjutant General to report to the Legislature the purpose of any allotment of fund monies or any expenditure of fund monies within one month of the allotment or expenditure.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

     Your Committee finds that the State is vulnerable to a wide range of natural and man-made hazards that may result in emergencies or disasters that are extremely costly.  The major disaster fund is used to provide immediate relief in response to an emergency or disaster in any part of the State.  However, existing law provides that the Governor may expend no more than $2,000,000 for immediate relief as a result of any single emergency or disaster.  Implementation of this measure will authorize the Governor to expend a higher amount if required by a future emergency or disaster.

     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 S.B. No. 1211 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair