STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1060

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 765

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 765, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOBILE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to acquire mobile communications, water, and power service capabilities that can be deployed to each county as needed.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

 

     Your Committee finds that climate change is causing a dramatic increase in extreme weather events globally.  In Hawaii, effects of climate change include increases in the number of wildfires, sea surface and air temperatures, coastal erosion, and extreme rain.  Against this backdrop, your Committee finds that emergency management systems must be bolstered.  The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is tasked with, among other things, anticipating trends and promoting innovations that will enhance the emergency management system for the State, and taking steps that include the partial or full mobilization of emergency management forces and organizations in advance of an actual emergency, to ensure the availability of adequately equipped forces before, during, and after emergencies and disasters.  This measure will appropriate funds to the Hawaii Emergency Agency so that it can quickly provide support to the people of Hawaii in cases of emergencies.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 765, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair