Bill Text: HI SB2909 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 2909

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Emergency Management.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-31 - The committee on PSM deferred the measure. [SB2909 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SB2909-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2909
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to emergency management.

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

SECTION 1. Section 127A-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

""Federally declared disaster" has the same meaning as defined in title 26 United States Code section 165."

SECTION 2. 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 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 management 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; lead the State's emergency management activities in a federally declared disaster; 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 2. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

HIEMA; Federally Declared Disaster; Emergency Management

Description:

Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to lead the State's emergency management activities in a federally declared disaster.

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