STAND. COM. REP. NO. 442

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 293

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 293 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATEWIDE INTEROPERABLE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a Statewide Interoperability Executive Board for coordinating a Statewide Interoperable Public Safety Communications System financed through surcharges on various traffic violations.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Department of Public Safety; Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Office of Enterprise Technologies; Department of Emergency Management, City and County of Honolulu; and Maui Police Department.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, State Procurement Office, Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency, Honolulu Police Department, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

     Your Committees find that the ability of first responders and emergency response agencies to effectively communicate with each other, particularly during emergency situations, is essential to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public.  However, there are many components to creating and maintaining a successful interoperable communications system.  These types of communications systems require well-defined leadership staffed with highly-qualified individuals.  In addition, it is necessary to establish a cohesive and coordinated overarching plan, including policies and procedures, that the various agencies involved can follow.  Your Committees note that a successful interoperable communications system requires adequate funding for the hiring of staff and purchasing of equipment that will enable coordination among agencies, but your Committees acknowledge the testimony of the Department of Public Safety recommending that the Statewide Interoperability Executive Board first be established and allowed to determine its needs before addressing funding for the Board.

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the funding mechanism, including the creation of the Interoperable Public Safety Communications Trust Fund and all surcharges for various traffic violations;

     (2)  Deleting all references to procurement pursuant to chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 293, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 293, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Government Operations,

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair