Report Title:

Military facilities

Description:

Provides the governor with temporary authority to determine whether training facilities for U.S. armed forces can be expeditiously constructed to protect the security of the State without being subject to state laws. (HB938 HD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

938

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO MILITARY FACILITIES.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that our country is on the brink of a war with Iraq over the refusal by its leader, Saddam Hussein, to disarm, particularly with regard to weapons of mass destruction. If such a war commences, our soldiers will be in harm's way, and casualties in both the military ranks as well as innocent Iraqi civilians may be high. The most effective way to minimize casualties among our troops is to prepare them with the best and most realistic training possible.

Hawaii's military units will certainly participate in some way in this war. Additionally, Hawaii may serve as a staging area for our fighting forces bound for the Middle East or other "hot" spots. These soldiers will also require training.

Additional training areas may be required by our military, and the preparation of these areas may require the shortest time possible. It will be in the best interest of our fighting men and women that we assist in their hazardous missions by facilitating the construction of appropriate training areas.

The economy of Hawaii will probably suffer with the commencement of a war with Iraq. Eastbound as well as westbound tourists will postpone or cancel their vacations to Hawaii, and our economy will suffer. The expeditious construction of training areas for the military will create additional jobs in the construction industry and serve to offset some of the economic losses in our tourist industry.

The purpose of this Act is to temporarily exempt the military from any state laws, rules, or regulations, that may hinder them in expeditiously constructing training facilities in the State.

SECTION 2. When the governor determines that the construction of military training facilities for the United States armed forces are reasonably necessary for the security of the state, the governor may suspend all laws pertaining to the construction of these training facilities.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2004.