STAND. COM. REP. NO. 134

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1059

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1059 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the definition of "emergency worker" in the Penal Code to include communications dispatchers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety; Department of Law Enforcement; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; and fifteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that communications dispatchers are presently not considered emergency workers in the Penal Code, specifically chapter 707, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which provides measures to deter the assault of emergency workers during a period of emergency. Despite this, communications dispatchers are required to report to work during hurricanes, pandemics, and other emergency events, much like firefighters and police officers. Additionally, communications dispatchers perform a crucial role during emergencies and must utilize multiple life-saving techniques, procedures, and technologies to obtain critical information from a caller that is experiencing an emergency. Your Committee believes that communications dispatchers perform an invaluable role during emergencies and deserve to be commended for their dedication and contributions. This measure will recognize the efforts of communications dispatchers by amending the definition of "emergency worker" in the Penal Code to include communications dispatchers.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1059, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1059, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair