HB 2692 - in need of testimony!

Please consider submitting testimony for this bill which is being heard by the House PBS Committee this Thursday 2/4/2010 at 830am in Room 309 at the State Capitol.

Following is:

1) a description of the bill and it's introducers
2) the text of the actual current version of the bill
3) instructions on how to properly submit testimony to the House PBS Committee


HB 2692

Measure Title: RELATING TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLANNING.
Report Title: Disaster Preparedness Plan; Civil Defense
Description: Requires the director of civil defense to prepare a disaster preparedness plan for the 44th and 45th House of Representatives districts and to report to the legislature in 2011.
Companion:
Package: None
Current Referral: PBS, FIN


Introducer(s): AWANA, CABANILLA, CHANG, HANOHANO, KARAMATSU, SHIMABUKURO, Aquino, Bertram, Brower, Magaoay, Sagum, Souki


[TEXT of BILL]

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO. 2692
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLANNING.


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


SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the leeward coast of Oahu is only accessible by way of Farrington Highway. Any closure of the highway due to traffic accidents or other incidences can temporarily disrupt the lives of tens of thousands of commuting residents. The legislature also finds that, if a major disaster closes the freeway for extended periods of time, a host of problems arise that directly impacts the health, safety, and welfare of several leeward communities.

The purpose of this Act is to prepare for a major disaster on the leeward coast by requiring the director of civil defense to prepare a disaster preparedness plan for the 44th and 45th house of representatives districts. This Act is intended to serve as a model for future expansion of the disaster preparedness plan to serve other communities in the State.

SECTION 2. The director of civil defense shall prepare a disaster preparedness plan for the leeward coast areas of Oahu, specifically the areas included in the house of representative districts 44 and 45 which include the communities of Waianae, Makaha, Makua, Honokai Hale, Nanakuli, Lualualei, and Maili. The plan shall include strategies to address the following concerns:

1. The closing of roadway access to the districts with no available alternate routes;

2. The use of air and sea transportation services when roads are closed and the coordination of these services, especially the designation of primary and alternate air landing sites and any legal authorization needed to land on those sites;

3. The large homeless population living on beaches with limited resources;

4. The elderly, some of whom live alone, with limited access to disaster shelters and transportation services;

5. The growing indigent population that is suffering from the current economic downturn who rely heavily on public transportation to commute to work;

6. The coordination, distribution, and delivery of food, products, and services by private and public companies, organizations, and individuals to homes and communities;

7. An organization to serve as a community site coordinator (e.g. local civil defense volunteer team);

8. An inventory of existing governmental agencies, private companies, organizations, and individuals who may assist with a disaster preparedness plan;

9. Meetings in the community to gather input and follow-up meetings to disseminate this report; and

10. Any other issue necessary for a disaster preparedness plan.

SECTION 3. The director of civil defense shall report the director's findings and recommendations, including costs to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2011 regular session.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.



INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY:

Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing with a transmittal cover indicating:
· Testifier's name with position/title and organization;
· The Committee the comments are directed to;
· The date and time of the hearing;
· Measure number; and
· The number of copies the Committee is requesting.

While every effort will be made to copy, organize, and collate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed to the incorrect office, may be distributed to the Committee after the hearing.

Submit testimony in ONE of the following ways:
PAPER: 3 copies (including an original) to Room 310 in the State Capitol;
FAX: For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to 586-6521(Oahu) or 1-800-535-3859 (Neighbor Islanders with no e-mail access);
EMAIL: For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to PBStestimony@Capitol.hawaii.gov ; or
WEB: For comments less than 4MB in size, transmit from the Web page at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony.

Testimony submitted will be placed on the Legislative Web site after the hearing adjourns. This public posting of testimony on the Web site should be considered when including personal information in your testimony.

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids and/or services to participate in the House public hearing process (i.e., sign or foreign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the Committee Clerk at 586-6563 or email your request for an interpreter to HouseInterpreter@Capitol.hawaii.gov at least 24 hours prior to the hearing for arrangements. Prompt requests submitted help to ensure the availability of qualified individuals and appropriate accommodations.

Selected meetings are broadcast live. Check the current legislative broadcast schedule on the "Capitol TV" Web site at www.capitoltv.org OR call 550-8074.