THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1362

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the community assessment for public health emergency response (CASPER) is a low-cost, validated two-stage cluster sampling methodology developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to rapidly obtain information about the health and resource needs of a community.  Information obtained is generalizable to the entire sampling frame providing population-based estimates.  The information generated by this rapid needs assessment can be used to initiate public health action, identify information gaps, facilitate disaster planning and response activities, allocate resources, and assess new or changing needs in the community.

     The legislature also finds that although the department of health has offices in every county, only the Kauai district health office has conducted CASPERs annually from 2017 through 2019 to monitor trends in the emergency preparedness of island residents.  This resource was tapped during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response effort on Kauai to determine the impacts of the pandemic on the community.  The county's emergency management agency developed a survey, which assessed the community's knowledge, attitudes, and practices about COVID-19, as well as the financial and mental health impacts on households.

     The legislature further finds that, aside from the Kauai data collected, there is almost no data about household level emergency preparedness in Hawaii at either the county or a statewide level.  For example, data on household food storage, a critical element of food system resilience, could serve as a key data point for both immediate response planning and long-term intervention planning.  

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the department of health to conduct:

     (1)  A CASPER assessment for each county; and

     (2)  A statewide CASPER assessment,

to determine key emergency preparedness facets that would articulate key vulnerabilities to aid county and state recovery response and recovery planning.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of health shall conduct a community assessment for public health emergency response (CASPER) for the:

     (1)  County of Hawaii;

     (2)  County of Maui;

     (3)  County of Kauai; and

     (4)  City and county of Honolulu.

     (b)  The department of health shall conduct a statewide CASPER.

     (c)  The department of health shall coordinate with the  county emergency management agencies and Hawaii emergency management agency to develop CASPER survey.

     (d)  The survey shall include questions that address:

     (1)  Basic household information;

     (2)  Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19;

     (3)  The prevalence of households with members at high risk of severe disease;

     (4)  Mental health and stress impacts;

     (5)  Financial impacts of COVID-19 concerning employment, housing expenses, transportation, rent, mortgage, basic utilities, household food needs;

     (6)  COVID-19 communication sources; and

     (7)  Other key emergency preparedness elements, such as those related to food,

that would assist in the articulating key vulnerabilities to aid county and state responses to an emergency and recovery planning.

     (e)  The department of health shall utilize numerous methods to notify the public of the CASPER, including a press release, radio advertisements, and social media posts.  The department staff and volunteers who conduct the survey shall follow social distancing requirements and provide for the ability for selected households to participate via telephone.

     (f)  The department of health shall obtain consent from all participants and provide for the opportunity to participate in a socially distanced outdoor or telephone interview.  

     (g)  The department of health shall provide for educational materials on COVID-19 and available social service resources for households who seek to participate in the study.

     SECTION 3.  The department of health shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations from the CASPER analyses, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2022.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Department of Health; Emergency Preparedness; Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response

 

Description:

Requires the department of health to perform a community assessment for public health emergency response for each county and on a statewide level to determine emergency preparedness facets that would help articulate key vulnerabilities to aid county and state response and recovery planning.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.