HB1577 HD1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1577
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO 911 SERVICES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's emergency response system must continually adapt to protect the State's residents, including kupuna and individuals with disabilities, access needs, or other functional needs. While the counties currently operate or participate in voluntary emergency safety profile systems, those systems are not consistently available statewide, leaving potential gaps in preparedness, dispatcher awareness, and first responder coordination.

The legislature further finds that Smart911 and similar statewide safety profile systems allow residents to create voluntary profiles providing secure medical, mobility, communication, and disability-related information to be made available to 911 dispatchers. This information is available only at the time of an emergency call and enhances the ability of emergency responders to deliver timely, appropriate, and life-saving assistance.

The purpose of this Act is to require the 911 board to establish a statewide emergency safety profile system pilot program and convene a working group.

SECTION 2. (a) As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise:

"Board" means the 911 board established by section 138-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

"Pilot program" means the statewide emergency safety profile system pilot program.

(b) The 911 board shall establish a statewide emergency safety profile system pilot program.

(c) The pilot program shall allow residents to voluntarily create and manage secure personal safety profiles containing information relevant to emergency response efforts, including information related to any:

(1) Medical conditions;

(2) Disabilities, access needs, or other functional needs;

(3) Mobility limitations or use of assistive devices;

(4) Emergency contacts;

(5) Communication needs or sensory considerations; and

(6) Household information useful for emergency response.

(d) The information in a personal safety profile created under subsection (c) shall be made available only to a public safety answering point at the time a 911-related call is initiated from a phone number or device associated with the profile.

(e) The board may contract with a vendor to provide a statewide safety profile platform, including the system commonly referred to as "Smart911" or any functionally equivalent system that meets national public safety and cybersecurity standards.

(f) The pilot program shall:

(1) Be available in all counties;

(2) Integrate with existing and future 911 technologies, including next-generation 911 systems;

(3) Support multiple languages;

(4) Ensure the confidentiality and security of resident information; and

(5) Include public education and outreach activities to promote awareness and participation, particularly among kupuna and individuals having disabilities, access needs, or other functional needs.

(g) The board shall convene a working group that shall meet regularly to discuss the pilot program, including how it is implemented and managed and how it can be improved. The working group shall consist of:

(1) Representatives from the city and county of Honolulu, county of Hawaii, county of Kauai, and county of Maui;

(2) The chief of the emergency medical services and injury prevention system branch of the department of health, or the chief's designee;

(3) The director of the executive office on aging, or the director's designee;

(4) The executive director of the disability and communication access board, or the executive director's designee; and

(5) The executive administrator of the Hawaii state council on developmental disabilities, or the executive administrator's designee.

(h) No later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2031, the board, on behalf of the working group, shall submit to the legislature a report regarding the pilot program, including findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2031.