STAND. COM. REP. NO. 501

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 522

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 522 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to remove the ability of the Governor or a mayor to suspend electronic media transmission during a state of emergency.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two members of the Hawai‘i County Council, Hawai‘i Association of Broadcasters, Hawaii News Now, The Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest, Big Island Press Club, Hawaii Chapter Society of Professional Journalists, and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency.

Your Committee finds that the current statutes allowing the Governor or a mayor authority to suspend electronic media transmission during an emergency are outdated and may restrict the ability of the public to receive timely information.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, 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 Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 522, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 522, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair