STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1379

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1180

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1180, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATURAL DISASTERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the County of Hawaii for disaster relief, recovery, mitigation, and remediation activities related to the Kilauea eruption, and to require the county to report monthly expenditures to the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Department of Agriculture, County of Hawai‘i Department of Research and Development, two members of the Hawai‘i County Council, Hawaiian Electric Companies, Orchids Paradise LLC, Hedonisia Hawaii Sustainable Community, IMUA Lower Puna, HOPE Services Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Maui County Farm Bureau, Kohala Coast Resort Association, Habitat for Humanity Hawaii Island, Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation, fourteen individuals, and a petition signed by a few thousand individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure through a petition signed by numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that unprecedented volcanic eruptions occurred on the island of Hawaii from May 3, 2018, to August 14, 2018, and destroyed hundreds of homes, communities, businesses, farms, schools, cultural sites, water systems, the electrical grid, and roadways. Your Committee further finds that the Kilauea eruptions necessitated the deployment of several state and local emergency personnel at the time of the eruptions and continued support is needed for long-term recovery and hazard mitigation efforts.

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. 1180, 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