Bill Text: HI HB955 | 2021 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 955 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating To The State Disaster Recovery Program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-17 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Hashem excused (1). [HB955 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2021-HB955-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	955
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE STATE DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that disaster recovery is a complex and long-term process that involves a range of activities and many participants. Recovery operations begin shortly after a disaster occurs and can continue for many years. It involves short-term restoration of essential community functions and long-term recovery planning and coordination.

State, public, and private organizations share in providing for the public's health and safety. It is essential that the response, recovery, and mitigation activities of all parties be fully aligned.

The purpose of this Act is to enhance the capacity of the government, relevant agencies, and the community to recover from the impacts of disasters by establishing the state disaster recovery program as overseen by the state disaster recovery coordinator whose position was funded through the governor's executive budget in fiscal biennium 2019-2021.

SECTION 2. Chapter 127A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to be read as follows:

"§127A- State disaster recovery coordinator; general functions, duties, and powers. (a) The state disaster recovery coordinator shall:

(1) Report to the governor;

(2) Oversee the state disaster recovery program and framework;

(3) Establish and maintain recovery priorities and strategy on behalf of the governor;

(4) Convene and provide executive level coordination for state agencies working on the federal disaster recovery and reconstruction programs and alignment of funding;

(5) Facilitate disaster recovery coordination and collaboration between the federal, state, and local governments, the private sector, and voluntary, faith‑based, and community organizations;

(6) Serve as the primary contact with the federal disaster recovery coordinator to address recovery needs;

(7) Promote a unified communications strategy with state and local partners; and

(8) Develop and adopt interagency coordination plans to drive long-term recovery from disasters.

(b) The state disaster recovery coordinator shall conduct a comprehensive review of recovery plans, policies, and decisions and submit a report to the governor and the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2022 and every odd year thereafter. Each stakeholder agency involved is responsible to keep applicable portions of recovery plans, together with annexes and appendices thereto, accurate and up to date."

SECTION 3. Section 127A-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (e), to read as follows:

"(e) The agency shall perform emergency management functions within the territorial limits of the State. In performing its duties, the agency shall:

(1) Prepare a state comprehensive emergency management plan, which shall include a state disaster recovery program and framework and be integrated into and coordinated with the emergency management plans of the federal government. The plan shall be integrated by a continuous, integrated comprehensive emergency management program. The plan shall contain provisions to ensure that the State is prepared for emergencies and minor, major, and catastrophic disasters. In preparing and maintaining the plan, the agency shall work closely with agencies and organizations with emergency management responsibilities;

(2) Assign lead and support responsibilities to state agencies and personnel for emergency functions and other support activities;

(3) Adopt standards and requirements for county emergency management plans. The standards and requirements shall ensure that county plans are coordinated and consistent with the state comprehensive emergency management plan;

(4) Make recommendations to the legislature, building code organizations, and counties for zoning, building, and other land use controls; and other preparedness, prevention, and mitigation measures designed to eliminate emergencies or reduce their impact;

(5) Anticipate trends and promote innovations that will enhance the emergency management system;

(6) Institute statewide public awareness programs. This shall include intensive public educational campaigns on emergency preparedness issues, including but not limited to the personal responsibility of individual citizens to be self-sufficient for up to fourteen days following a natural or human-caused disaster;

(7) Coordinate federal, state, and local emergency management activities and take all other steps, including the partial or full mobilization of emergency management forces and organizations in advance of an actual emergency, to ensure the availability of adequately trained and equipped forces of emergency management personnel before, during, and after emergencies and disasters;

(8) Implement training programs to improve the ability of state and local emergency management personnel to prepare and implement emergency management plans and programs. This shall include a continuous training program for agencies and individuals that will be called on to perform key roles in state and local post-disaster response and recovery efforts and for local government personnel on federal and state post‑disaster response and recovery strategies and procedures;

(9) Adopt standards and requirements for state agency emergency operating procedures and periodically review emergency operating procedures of state agencies and recommend revisions as needed to ensure consistency with the state comprehensive emergency management plan and program; and

(10) Coordinate, in advance whenever possible, such executive orders, proclamations, and rules for issuance by the governor as are necessary or appropriate for coping with emergencies and disasters."

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

COVID-19 Statewide Recovery Planning and Coordination; State Disaster Recovery Program and Framework; State Disaster Recovery Coordinator; Hawaii Emergency Management Agency

Description:

Establishes a framework for disaster recovery in the State and describes the role of the state disaster recovery coordinator. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

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