STAND. COM. REP. NO. 125

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 765

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness, to which was referred H.B. No. 765 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOBILE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to acquire mobile communications, water, and power service capabilities that can be deployed to each county as needed.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Mayor of the County of Maui, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the ability to quickly mobilize support across the State during an emergency is crucial to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the State's residents and visitors. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is responsible for disaster response in the State, which includes anticipating trends and promoting innovations that will enhance the emergency management system for the State. Your Committee believes that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency needs sufficient funding to ensure the availability of adequately equipped forces before, during, and after emergencies and disasters.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 765, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 765, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair