RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.

HB2554

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2554

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to search and rescue
.

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

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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that Hawaii is
among the states with the highest per capita rates of missing persons, including
both residents and visitors, magnifying the need for improved oversight and
accountability for search and rescue activities.

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The legislature
further finds that Hawaii's geographic isolation, terrain, and tourism profile
create a level of search and rescue demand and risk that cannot be safely or
efficiently managed under the State�s current fragmented system.
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In the absence of centralized leadership,
Hawaii has no statewide mechanism to analyze the incidence and prevalence of
missing persons and search and rescue efforts, capture lessons learned, or
systematically implement prevention and mitigation strategies.

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The
legislature finds that the State's geography, including approximately seven
hundred fifty miles of coastline and 3,800,000 acres of undeveloped property,
coupled with steep volcanic terrain, rapidly changing weather, and remote ocean
and inland areas, pose significant and increasing challenges for search and
rescue operations.
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Many residents and
visitors hike, hunt, and engage in ocean recreation, aviation, and other high‑risk
activities in remote locations, where a delayed or uncoordinated response can
quickly turn a survivable incident into a fatality.

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The
legislature further finds that current search and rescue efforts are fragmented
across more than a dozen federal, state, county, and volunteer agencies and
jurisdictions, operating largely in a reactive posture, with no single entity
responsible for statewide strategy, standards, or accountability.
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This decentralized model lacks standardized
protocols, unified training requirements, and a single point of contact to
provide daily centralized oversight and administrative accountability for
interagency communication and mission-critical coordination for urban,
maritime, and wilderness search and rescue operations, as well as missing
person investigations.
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As a result,
operations are often slowed by jurisdictional confusion, duplicative responses,
gaps in coverage, and the inconsistent use of modern technology and best
practices.

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The
legislature notes that data and recent incidents have shown that this
inefficient decentralized model leads to delayed emergency response times.
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Delayed responses endanger public safety, put
first responders at unnecessary higher risk, and burden the State�s economy.
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These delays and inefficiencies increase the
likelihood of extended searches, prolonged closures of public lands and ocean
areas, damage to sensitive natural and cultural resources, and costly
litigation and claims that could be mitigated by a more coordinated, preventive
approach.

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The
legislature recognizes that Hawaii's approximately $20,000,000,000 annual
visitor economy, which generates roughly $2,400,000,000 in state tax revenue
each year, depends on maintaining the State's reputation as a safe destination.

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Hawaii's visitors are among the most
valuable in the nation, leading major United States destinations in tax revenue
per visitor.
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One high-profile search and
rescue tragedy or a pattern of preventable fatalities could cause reputational
damage that would undermine this economic base.
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Visitor arrivals and tax collections could be
adversely affected and impact the long-term cost of recovery for the State.

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The
legislature further notes that when placed against national benchmarks, the
State sits as a dangerous outlier for inland search and rescue operations.
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While Hawaii currently invests an annual
statewide aggregate of approximately $43,000,000 in ocean safety, the State
remains the only major destination with a lack of dedicated state inland search
and rescue coordination.
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This creates a
critical safety "gap" in the State's public safety infrastructure.
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Ocean safety is treated as a core state
obligation while inland and multi‑jurisdictional search and rescue operations
are left to a patchwork of agencies, with no statewide strategy, oversight, or
data-driven planning.

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The
legislature finds that other states with large tourism sectors and complex
geography, such as California, Florida, and New York, use state-level
coordination as a baseline requirement.
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California
leverages its governor's office of emergency services to ensure a unified
response across diverse urban, rural, and wilderness environments.
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New York, a critical comparison point because
it manages high-volume international tourism across dense urban centers and
vast wilderness areas like the Adirondacks, maintains state-level coordination
and invests significant tax revenue in safety branding, prevention, and
coordinated operations.

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The
legislature believes that the establishment of a state search and rescue
coordinator would directly address these deficiencies by:

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(1)
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Ensuring a centralized authority for search
and rescue operations;

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(2)
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Establishing unified communication and
collaboration among all participating federal, state, and county agencies and
volunteer organizations;

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(3)
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Setting standards for training, certification,
and readiness requirements; and

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(4)
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Creating clear lines of accountability for
planning, operations, and expenditures.

A state search and rescue coordinator would oversee
the allocation and deployment of resources to reduce redundancy and close
coverage gaps, expand the use of modern technology and data analytics, and lead
public education campaigns targeted at high-risk behaviors and locations,
thereby reducing incident frequency and severity.

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Additionally,
establishing a state search and rescue coordinator would allow for more
effective coordination with Emergency Support Function 9 of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency National Response Framework, which provides federal
lifesaving assistance to area authorities during large-scale incidents that
require a unified search and rescue response.

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By
leveraging data to decrease incident frequency; reduce the duration and cost of
operations; and identify opportunities for federal, insurance, and private
reimbursements, this Act is intended to move Hawaii toward a self-sustaining
level of operational efficiency and long-term cost avoidance.
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The legislature believes this Act is a vital
investment to protect the health of Hawaii's aina, enhance the safety and
resilience of communities across all islands, and strengthen the long-term
trajectory of Hawaii's $20,000,000,000 annual visitor economy.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to create a single point of contact with authority
over, responsibility for, and daily oversight of emergency life saving efforts
across all jurisdictions.
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Specifically, this
Act establishes, on a pilot basis within the office of the governor, the office
of the state search and rescue coordinator to:

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(1)
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Optimize resource allocation;

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(2)
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Coordinate cost-sharing and reimbursement
opportunities; and

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(3)
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Reduce the aggregate fiscal burden on the
State caused by multiple departments and jurisdictions having redundant and
prolonged emergency responses.

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SECTION
2.
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The Hawaii Revised Statutes is
amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

"
Chapter

SEARCH AND RESCUE

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Short title.
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This chapter may
be cited as the Hawaii State Search and Rescue Coordinator Act.

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Definitions.
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As
used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

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"Coordinator"
or "state search and rescue coordinator" means the individual
appointed to oversee statewide search and rescue operations under this chapter.

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"Office"
means the office of the state search and rescue coordinator.

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"Participating
agencies" means federal, state, county, and volunteer organizations
focusing on search and rescue operations, as identified by the coordinator.

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"Rescue"
means gaining access, rendering appropriate care, and transporting any person
by whatever means to a safe environment for appropriate care.

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"Search"
means the process of looking for any person whose location is not precisely
known, and who may be in distress.

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"Search
and rescue" means the process of looking for all persons at elevated risk
of becoming lost or missing due to exigent circumstances, including any overdue
person who may be in distress, and rendering care with the use of appropriately
trained and adequately equipped personnel.

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"Search
and rescue operation" includes, but is not limited to, searching for any
missing or lost person, cave rescue, high angle or rough terrain rescue, urban
search and rescue, dive rescue and recovery of drowning victims, inland water
search, rescue, and recovery.
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"Search
and rescue operation" may also include any operation permitted pursuant to
this chapter.

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"Search
and rescue vehicles and equipment" means any motorized vehicle and
equipment used in any search and rescue operation.

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Office
of the state search and rescue coordinator; established.
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There is established the office of the
state search and rescue coordinator within the office of the governor.
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The office shall be headed by the state search
and rescue coordinator.

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Powers
and duties generally.
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The coordinator
shall:

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(1)
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Review and assess the search and rescue
readiness of the State;

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(2)
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Coordinate search and rescue efforts among
local agencies for the State and counties, including the department of defense,
county police departments, county fire departments, Hawaii emergency management
agency, department of land and natural resources, United States Coast Guard,
and volunteers and applicable county and federal services;

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(3)
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Identify, inventory, and coordinate resources
available for searches and rescues;

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(4)
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Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary
for the purposes of this chapter, including rules to ensure operations that organizations
specializing in search and rescue operations are certified at the appropriate
level;

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(5)
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Prepare a plan for searches and rescues;

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(6)
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Investigate and apply for grants and other
financial assistance for searches and rescues;

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(7)
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Prepare and distribute publications relating
to searches and rescues;

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(8)
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Maintain records of all search and rescue
operations in the State;

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(9)
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Coordinate training in techniques of search
and rescue operations;

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(10)
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Maintain and update every six months an
interagency emergency response roster of certified personnel responding to
incidents; and

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(11)
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Appoint staff as may be necessary, subject to
chapters 76 and 89.

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Discretionary powers.
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The
office may:

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(1)
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Establish headquarters and county offices at
places the office of the governor considers advisable for the protection of the
State;

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(2)
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Operate or designate the use of search and
rescue vehicles and equipment during search and rescue operations;

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(3)
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Use land and buildings for the accommodation
of office employees and office vehicles and equipment;

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(4)
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Contract or otherwise cooperate with any
person or public agency for the procurement of necessary services or property,
subject to chapter 103D where applicable, including by entering into lease
agreements and taking title to real property as necessary for the performance
of the duties of the office;

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(5)
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As an emergency services agency, control and
regulate the acquisition, operation, use, maintenance, and disposal of search
and rescue vehicles and equipment;

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(6)
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Accept and transfer grants, donations, and
funds from any source, including services and property, to carry out search and
rescue operations and the duties of the office;

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(7)
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Provide training, or enter into contracts to provide
training services in search and rescue techniques to participating agencies,
and other training deemed necessary to execute duties effectively and
efficiently; and

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(8)
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Perform any other duties necessary to
discharge its duties under this chapter.

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Preparat
ion of statistical
reports.
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The coordinator shall
prepare and submit to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to each
regular session statistical reports for each island including:

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(1)
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The status of participating agencies' training
and certifications;

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(2)
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Training completion rates and certifications
disaggregated by agency;

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(3)
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Trends in search and rescue incident frequency
and any outreach and prevention efforts for the period of the report;

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(4)
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A summary of each county's search and rescue
records; and

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(5)
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Any other information the coordinator deems
appropriate.

The reports shall also be posted on the office's
website and made publicly available upon request, subject to a fee not to
exceed the cost of printing and distribution.

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Search and rescue readiness and capabilities.
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The office shall increase the State's search
and rescue readiness and capabilities by:

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(1)
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Increasing the number of search and rescue
personnel and administrative support personnel to address planning,
communications, training, deployment, and safety;

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(2)
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Implementing innovative technologies and
modernizing systems to expedite search and rescue resource deployment in a safe
and efficient manner;

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(3)
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Entering into contracts or agreements with
federal or state agencies, counties, other states, corporations, and
authorities, having jurisdiction for search and rescue, coordination, and
response;

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(4)
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Coordinating with the Hawaii emergency
management agency, department of defense, county police departments, county fire
departments, department of land and natural resources, United States Coast
Guard, volunteers, county and federal services, and any other participating
agencies;

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(5)
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Exploring additional opportunities to reduce
missing persons risks and defray search and rescue costs, including engaging
with:

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(A)
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The
missing child center-Hawaii program, as established in section 28-121, and the
human trafficking prevention program, as established in section 28-182;

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(B)
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Insurance
companies that cover costs allocated to rescued persons under chapter 137; and

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(C)
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Federal
agencies to expand opportunities for cost-share partnerships for search and
rescue operations and develop strategies to improve search and rescue policies
applicable to the State; and

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(6)
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Overseeing the development and maintenance of
a comprehensive statewide search and rescue council consisting of membership
from the department of defense, Hawaii emergency management agency, department
of land and natural resources, office of the attorney general, county fire
departments, county police departments, emergency medical services, United
States Coast Guard, and volunteer representatives any other participating
agencies, including others as requested, tasked with advising on plans,
training standards, and policy and funding priorities.

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Use of search and rescue resources.
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The
coordinator, in consultation with the statewide search and rescue council,
shall provide advice and counsel to the governor on the most practical use of
the State's search and rescue resources.

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State
search and rescue coordinator; terms of employment.
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(a)
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The
state search and rescue coordinator shall be appointed by the governor from a
list of three names submitted by the department of law enforcement and the Hawaii
emergency management agency, with outreach for nominations to volunteer
organizations on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu.
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The state search and rescue coordinator shall
serve for a term of five years.
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The
appointment of the state search and rescue coordinator shall be made without
regard to chapters 76 and 89, and shall not be subject to the advice and
consent of the senate.
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If a vacancy
occurs, the department of law enforcement and the Hawaii emergency management
agency shall meet expeditiously to submit a list of three names to the governor
for the appointment of a new state search and rescue coordinator to serve the
remainder of the unexpired term.

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(b)
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The state search and rescue coordinator shall
be qualified to direct the technical and executive work of the office and shall
have education or training related to the programs of the office and
significant experience in search and rescue operations or related programs.

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Assistants.

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The state search and rescue
coordinator may employ other assistants and employees, subject to chapter 76,
and incur other expenses as the state search and rescue coordinator deems
necessary to effectively administer the office.
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Each assistant shall be well-qualified by
technical training and experience in the functions to be performed by the
individual.
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The state search and rescue
coordinator may remove any assistant for cause.

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Salary.
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The salary of the state search and rescue
coordinator shall be per cent of the salary of the
director of health.

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Recordkeeping.

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The office shall keep a record of each
search and rescue incident occurring in the State and all facts concerning the
same, including statistics as to the cost of each incident; outcome; and
whether the incident cost was covered by insurance, and if so, in what amount.
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All records shall be made public, except
information protected from disclosure pursuant to chapter 92F.
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The records compiled under this section shall
include a compilation of the counties' search and rescue records.

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Community
risk reduction program.
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(a)
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The office may develop and administer a
community risk reduction program that:

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(1)
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Emphasizes education and methods for preventing
search and rescue incidents; and

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(2)
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Encourages the prevention of emergencies and
loss of life.

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(b)
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The counties may opt into the community risk
reduction program to provide resources and localized knowledge of the
community.

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(c)
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The office or counties may contract with
educational, communications and media, or nonprofit entities to assist with the
administration of the community risk reduction program.

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S
tate search and rescue annual
report; deadline; contents.
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No later
than twenty days before the convening of each regular session, beginning with
the regular session of 2027, the office shall submit to the legislature an
annual report regarding the activities of the state search and rescue office in
implementing this chapter.
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The report
shall include:

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(1)
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A status report concerning:

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(A)
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Community
risk reduction;

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(B)
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Search
and rescue incident occurrence and frequency by island; and

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(C)
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Incident
outcomes;

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(2)
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The amount of moneys expended during the previous
fiscal year for:

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(A)
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Community risk reduction; and

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(B)
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Incident occurrence; and

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(3)
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Any proposed legislation, including current or
future resource and funding needs.

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Uniforms;
uniform design; response apparatus; search and rescue vehicles and equipment.
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(a)
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The office shall provide the coordinator and
any staff with standard uniforms, including a jacket, vest, patch, or hat, to
be worn in the field so that the coordinator and staff are recognizable to
other agencies and personnel.

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(b)
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The state search and rescue coordinator shall
specify a pattern and distinctive design for the uniforms described in
subsection (a).

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(c)
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The state search and rescue coordinator may
enter into agreements with other governmental agencies for the purpose of
resource sharing, including the sharing of response apparatus, supplies, search
and rescue vehicles, and any equipment necessary to carry out the search and
rescue operations.

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Training
requirements; county search and rescue volunteers; assistance to the counties.
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(a)
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The coordinator shall establish minimum search
and rescue certification requirements by:

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(1)
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Consulting with the statewide search and
rescue council;

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(2)
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Establishing requirements that are consistent
with generally accepted, evidence-based standards for search and rescue
personnel;

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(3)
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Considering best practices specific to the
State and traditional and customary practices relating to search and rescue;

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(4)
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Periodically reexamining and updating the
requirements to reflect current best practices, in consultation with the statewide
search and rescue council;

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(5)
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Establishing requirements that are specifically
applicable to search and rescue efforts on state lands within the jurisdiction
of a county;

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(6)
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Adopting rules governing the requirements' administration;

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(7)
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Consulting with stakeholders, including
participating agencies; and

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(8)
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Adopting rules concerning any additional requirements
adopted by the counties pursuant to subsection (b).

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(b)
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Each county search and rescue department may
adopt local requirements for search and rescue certifications that are greater
than the minimum search and rescue certification requirements established by
the state search and rescue coordinator.

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(c)
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The office may provide financial,
administrative, technical, or other assistance to a county to facilitate the
administration of the State's search and rescue training requirements."

SECTION 3.
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There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment and
administration of the office of the state search and rescue coordinator.

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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the office of the governor for the purposes
of this Act.

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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026,
and shall be repealed on .

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Office of
the Governor; State Search and Rescue Coordinator; Counties; Federal Agencies;
Private and Nonprofit Organizations; Appropriations

Description:

Establishes,
within the Office of the Governor, the Office of the State Search and Rescue
Coordinator to review, assess, coordinate, prepare, and manage plans and resources
for search and rescue operations statewide.
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Sunsets on
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Approprites moneys.

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