HR 58: REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE PLACEMENT OF AN OFFICE OF RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE PLACEMENT OF AN OFFICE OF RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY.

     WHEREAS, the Maui wildfires led to over one hundred fatalities and nearly $12,000,000,000 in damages; and

     WHEREAS, in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires, the Hawaiʻi Climate Advisory Team was established as an advisory group to propose policies that improve the State's ability to effectively respond to disasters; and

     WHEREAS, the Climate Advisory Team recommended in its January 2025 Policy Recommendations on Climate Disaster Resilience, Recovery and Funding that a permanent Hawaii Resilience Office be established to provide leadership and coordination to improve the State's resilience and preparedness for disasters; and

     WHEREAS, the Climate Advisory Team did not make a specific recommendation regarding the placement of the Hawaii Resilience Office; and

     WHEREAS, the Climate Advisory Team acknowledged that while the temporary Hawaii Office of Recovery and Resiliency and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency have elements of resilience in their missions, the responsibility for resilience planning and implementation should reside clearly in one department; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development is requested to convene a working group to evaluate the establishment and administrative placement of an Office of Resilience and Recovery; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members:

     (1)  The Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, or the Director's designee, who is requested to serve as chairperson of the working group;

     (2)  The State Recovery Coordinator of the Office of the Governor, or the Governor's designee;

     (3)  The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee;

     (4)  The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, or the Chairperson's designee;

     (5)  The Adjutant General, or the Adjutant General's designee;

     (6)  The State Fire Marshal, or the State Fire Marshal's designee;

     (7)  The Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, or the Administrator's designee;

     (8)  The Chair of the State Fire Council, or the Chair's designee;

     (9)  Two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

    (10)  Two members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

    (11)  The Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, or the Mayor's designee;

    (12)  The Mayor of the County of Maui, or the Mayor's designee;

    (13)  The Mayor of the County of Hawaii, or the Mayor's designee;

    (14)  The Mayor of the County of Kauai, or the Mayor's designee; and

    (15)  A representative from the American Red Cross of Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to determine the principal department within which the Office of Resilience and Recovery should be established and its relationship with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including a recommendation for the permanent administrative placement of the Office of Resilience and Recovery, to the Legislature by November 30, 2025; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Attorney General; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Adjutant General; State Fire Marshal; Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Chair of the State Fire Council; Mayors of the Counties of Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai and Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; and Regional CEO of the American Red Cross, Pacific Islands Region.

Report Title: 

Working Group; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Office of Resilience and Recovery

HOUSE RESOLUTION

requesting the office of planning and sustainable development to convene a working group to evaluate the establishment and administrative placement of an office of resilience and recovery.

     WHEREAS, the Maui wildfires led to over one hundred fatalities and nearly $12,000,000,000 in damages; and

     WHEREAS, in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires, the Hawaiʻi Climate Advisory Team was established as an advisory group to propose policies that improve the State's ability to effectively respond to disasters; and

     WHEREAS, the Climate Advisory Team recommended in its January 2025 Policy Recommendations on Climate Disaster Resilience, Recovery and Funding that a permanent Hawaii Resilience Office be established to provide leadership and coordination to improve the State's resilience and preparedness for disasters; and

     WHEREAS, the Climate Advisory Team did not make a specific recommendation regarding the placement of the Hawaii Resilience Office; and

     WHEREAS, the Climate Advisory Team acknowledged that while the temporary Hawaii Office of Recovery and Resiliency and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency have elements of resilience in their missions, the responsibility for resilience planning and implementation should reside clearly in one department; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development is requested to convene a working group to evaluate the establishment and administrative placement of an Office of Resilience and Recovery; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members:

     (1)  The Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, or the Director's designee, who is requested to serve as chairperson of the working group;

     (2)  The State Recovery Coordinator of the Office of the Governor, or the Governor's designee;

     (3)  The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee;

     (4)  The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, or the Chairperson's designee;

     (5)  The Adjutant General, or the Adjutant General's designee;

     (6)  The State Fire Marshal, or the State Fire Marshal's designee;

     (7)  The Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, or the Administrator's designee;

     (8)  The Chair of the State Fire Council, or the Chair's designee;

     (9)  One member of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

    (10)  One member of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

    (11)  The Director of the Department of Emergency Management of the City and County of Honolulu, or the Director's designee;

    (12)  The Administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, or the Administrator's designee;

    (13)  The Administrator of the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency, or the Administrator's designee;

    (14)  The Administrator of the Kauai Emergency Management Agency, or the Administrator's designee; and

    (15)  A representative from the American Red Cross of Hawaii; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to determine the principal department within which the Office of Resilience and Recovery should be established and its relationship with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including a recommendation for the permanent administrative placement of the Office of Resilience and Recovery, to the Legislature by November 30, 2025; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Attorney General; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Adjutant General; State Fire Marshal; Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Chair of the State Fire Council; Director of the Department of Emergency Management of the City and County of Honolulu; Administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency; Administrator of the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency; Administrator of the Kauai Emergency Management Agency; and Regional CEO of the American Red Cross, Pacific Islands Region.

Report Title: 

Working Group; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Office of Resilience and Recovery

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1686

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.R. No. 58

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.R. No. 58 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE PLACEMENT OF AN OFFICE OF RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to convene a working group to evaluate the establishment and administrative placement of an office of resilience and recovery.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor Recovery and Resiliency Unit; Climate Advisory Team; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that as natural disasters increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change, there is an urgent need to strengthen the State's resilience and preparedness for future disasters.  Your Committee further finds that establishing a permanent office of resilience and recovery to provide ongoing support and leadership during and in the aftermath of a disaster will significantly improve the coordination and resilience of the State's response to future disasters.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Amending the composition of the working group; and

     (2)  Amending the list of recipients of certified copies of this measure.

     Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider incorporating into the budget an appropriation of $36,000 to program ID BED144 for one temporary exempt Planning Analyst position for six months to support the activities of the working group.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 58, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 58, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,