STAND. COM. REP. NO. 787

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 955

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 955, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELAND SECURITY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Hawaii State Fusion Center as a program under the Office of Homeland Security that would be overseen by a director to be appointed by the Director of Homeland Security.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Defense, Department of Human Services, Office of Homeland Security, and The Maritime Group LLC.

 

     Your Committee finds that the goal of the Hawaii State Fusion Center is to serve as the State's focal point for receipt and analysis of threat-related information and to share that information among federal, state, county, and private sector partners.  As security threats increase, your Committee believes it is essential that the State maintain the ability to coordinate the efficient and effective sharing of security information across all levels of government.  Accordingly, this measure formally establishes the Hawaii State Fusion Center in statute.

 

     Your Committee notes that a general fund appropriation of $80,000 and a 1.00 full-time equivalent temporary position has been requested for the Hawaii State Fusion Center.  In addition, the Department of Defense has indicated to your Committee that the enabling statute created by this measure is required to establish the Center.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style; and

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate continued discussion on the measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 955, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 955, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair