RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

HB883

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

883

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to emergency management
.

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 despite Hawaii's
increasing risk of experiencing extreme weather events, information
consolidation and sharing is lacking as it relates to locations where the
public can shelter at a moment's notice.
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In addition, few public buildings meet minimum requirements for
hurricane sheltering while demand for public evacuation shelter space is likely
to exceed available inventory.

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The
legislature finds it is critical to take a more focused approach towards
shelter retrofitting and strengthen communication of available shelters amongst
government entities and the general public.
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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to:

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(1)
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Require the Hawaii emergency management agency
to inventory all designated emergency shelters statewide and their ability to
withstand a category one hurricane or higher;

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(2)
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Collaborate with the counties to publish a
publicly available list of shelters and their respective hurricane rating; and

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(3)
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Provide funding for the hurricane shelter
retrofit program and establish a director position to manage its activities.

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SECTION
2
.
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Section 127A-3,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

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"
�127A-3
�
Hawaii emergency management agency.
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(a)
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There is established within the department of defense the Hawaii
emergency management agency.
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The
adjutant general shall serve as the director of Hawaii emergency management
and, subject to the direction and control of the governor, shall oversee the
agency.

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(b)
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There shall be an administrator of emergency
management who shall be appointed, and may be removed, by the director, and who
shall have at least three years of experience leading emergency management
efforts at the local, state, or federal level.
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The administrator of emergency management shall be the civilian head of
and responsible for the day-to-day operations of the agency.
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The administrator of emergency management
shall report to the director.
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The
administrator of emergency management shall, in the absence of the director,
have all the duties and responsibilities of the director, and shall
report directly to the governor.
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T
he administrator of emergency
management shall not be subject to chapter 76.

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(c)
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The administrator may, from funds allotted
therefor, employ technical, clerical, administrative, and other personnel and
make such expenditures as may be necessary.

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(d)
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The administrator shall coordinate the
activities of the agency with all county emergency management agencies, other
state agencies, other states, or federal agencies involved in emergency
management activities, and all organizations for emergency management within
the State, whether public or private, and shall maintain liaison and cooperate
with all county emergency management agencies, other state agencies, other
states, or federal agencies involved in emergency management activities as
provided in this chapter.

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

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

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

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

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(4)
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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;

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

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(6)
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Institute
statewide public awareness programs.
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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;

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(7)
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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;

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(8)
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Implement training
programs to improve the ability of state and local emergency management
personnel to prepare and implement emergency management plans and
programs.
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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;

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(9)
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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

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(10)
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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.

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(f)
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The agency shall inventory all designated
emergency shelters statewide and their ability to withstand a category one
hurricane or higher.
"

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SECTION
4.
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Section 127A-19, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:

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"(f)
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For purposes of this section,
"shelter" includes any structure, excavation, or other facility or
item used or useful for the protection of persons[
.
]
and any public
building constructed after January 2026 that meets the requirements of section
107-27(e).
"

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SECTION
3.
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The Hawaii emergency management
agency shall collaborate with the respective counties to publish a publicly
available list of shelters and their respective hurricane rating by category no
later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2026.

SECTION 4.
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There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
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or so much thereof as may be necessary for
fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary
for fiscal year 2026-2027 for a hurricane shelter retrofit program; provided
that $ of the
appropriation may be used to fund one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position
in the Hawaii emergency management agency for a hurricane shelter retrofit
program director.

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The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the
Hawaii emergency management agency for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 5.
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Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
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New statutory
material is underscored.

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SECTION 6.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

HIEMA;
Emergency Management; Preparedness; Inventory; Appropriation; Retrofitting

Description:

Requires
the Hawaii emergency management agency to inventory all designated emergency
shelters and their ability to withstand a category one hurricane or
higher.
�
Requires Hawaii emergency
management agency to publish a publicly available list of shelters and their
respective hurricane ratings.
�

Appropriates funds for a hurricane shelter retrofit program and
director.

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