STAND. COM. REP. NO. 680-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2581

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2581 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 Hawaii County Council; Hawaii Association of Broadcasters, Inc.; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that in times of emergency, electronic media platforms serve as critical tools for disseminating timely and accurate information. Your Committee further finds that this measure, which removes the ability of the Governor and mayors to suspend electronic media transmission during a state of emergency, ensures that the authority granted to those elected officials remains in check.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2581, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2581, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair