STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1862

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1036

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1036, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELAND SECURITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to formally establish the Hawaii State Fusion Center as a program under the Office of Homeland Security to be transferred to the Department of Law Enforcement on January 1, 2024, and delineate its roles and responsibilities.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency, Office of Homeland Security, Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Human Services, and Retail Merchants of Hawaii. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that the Hawaii State Fusion Center (HSFC) has protected Hawaii's residents and critical infrastructure for over a decade by supporting public safety agencies and communities. As the hub of information and intelligence sharing, the HSFC brings together federal, state, county, and private sector partners to ensure Hawaii and the nation's safety. The HSFC collaborates with its partners to receive, analyze, and disseminate threat-related information and plays a vitally important role in the State's homeland security. This measure will bring formal recognition to the HSFC and ensure that the Hawaii Office of Homeland Security will continue to provide the necessary support to keep the State, residents, and critical infrastructure safe.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective upon its approval; and

(2) 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 Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1036, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1036, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair