Bill Text: HI SB2979 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Lahaina Wildfire Recovery.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-1)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-16 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SB2979 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-SB2979-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2979 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RElating to lahaina wildfire recovery.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Maui wildfires destroyed more than two thousand homes and more than eight hundred places of business. Property damages have been estimated at $6,000,000,000 and the lost business revenue has been estimated at $2,700,000 per day. Recovery is expected to take five to ten years.
The
legislature further finds that establishing a commission to oversee the
recovery process, understand the entirety of the recovery, accept input from
the public, and provide a public-facing entity for recovery efforts will help
to ensure that the recovery efforts consider the needs of all individuals
involved.
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to establish a commission to provide a comprehensive
and integrated vision of the 2023 Lahaina wildfire recovery. The legislature does not intend for this
commission to take the place of regular information for the community and
government, but instead provide a public-facing entity that will simultaneously
gather and disseminate information significant to the wildfire victims and the
State at-large, as recovery efforts proceed, and provide a conduit through
which community-initiated guidance on the recovery efforts may be communicated
to the public agencies conducting the recovery, remediation, and restoration
activities.
SECTION 2. (a) There is established the Lahaina recovery oversight commission within the department of accounting and general services for administrative purposes. The purpose of the Lahaina recovery oversight commission shall be to oversee, report on, and guide the efforts taken to rebuild Lahaina, Maui, from the damages caused by the 2023 wildfire.
(b) The commission shall consist of the following individuals:
(1) The mayor of Maui county or the mayor's designee;
(2) An individual designated by the mayor of Maui county;
(3) Two members of the Maui county council, to be designated by the Maui county council chair;
(4) The superintendent of education, or the superintendent's designee;
(5) The comptroller, or the comptroller's designee;
(6) The director of business, economic development, and tourism, or the director's designee;
(7) Three individuals designated by the speaker of the house of representatives who were residents of Lahaina, Maui, at the time of the 2023 Lahaina wildfire event; and
(8) Three individuals designated by the president of the senate who were residents of Lahaina, Maui, at the time of the 2023 Lahaina wildfire event.
(c) The commission shall select a chair from among its members. The commission may establish working groups.
(d) The commission shall invite members of the community, relevant for-profit and nonprofit entities, and relevant federal, state, and Maui county agencies and departments to participate in the public meetings of the commission.
(e) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including reasonable travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.
(f) No later than December 31, 2024, the commission shall establish standards for the recovery, including identifying relevant issues for analysis, establishing goals for rebuilding Lahaina, Maui, and drafting metrics to measure progress toward achieving the goals. The commission shall consult with the community and policy leaders in developing the standards and metrics required by this subsection.
(g) With the assistance of the office of enterprise technology services, the commission shall establish a website to serve as a clearinghouse for information related to the Lahaina wildfire recovery. The website shall also accept comments and other input from the public regarding the recovery.
(h) The commission's proceedings shall be subject to chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
(i) Not less than twenty days before the convening of the 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030 regular sessions of the legislature, the commission shall submit an annual report to the legislature on the following regarding the recovery of Lahaina, Maui:
(1) The status of rebuilding housing, educational facilities, and community facilities;
(2) The efforts taken for environmental restoration;
(3) The status of infrastructure restoration;
(4) Whether the well-being and other needs of impacted Maui residents have been addressed;
(5) The progress toward reaching the goals established by subsection (f); and
(6) Findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation, if any.
(j) The commission shall cease to exist on June 30, 2030.
SECTION 3. In accordance with section 9 of article VII, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $ , or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that the appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest and to meet the needs provided for by this Act.
SECTION 4. 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 2024-2025 for the Lahaina recovery oversight commission.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of accounting and general services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Lahaina Recovery Oversight Commission; Maui; Wildfire; OETS; DAGS; Appropriation; General Fund Expenditure Ceiling Exceeded
Description:
Establishes
the Lahaina Recovery Oversight Commission within the Department of Accounting
and General Services to oversee and guide the recovery of Lahaina from the 2023
wildfires. Requires the Office of
Enterprise Technology Services to assist in establishing a website for the
Commission. Requires annual reports. Appropriates moneys. Declares that the appropriation exceeds the
state general fund expenditure ceiling for 2024‑2025.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
