Senate Standing Committee on Government Operations

Great afternoon, everyone. Will the joint committees for the Senate, committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Government Operations, please come to order? Today is January 312025 and we are in Conference Room 225. This hearing is also being streamed on the Hawaii State Senate's YouTube channel.

A few housekeeping announcement in the unlikely case of technical failures, this meeting will reconvene here in Conference Room 2 to 5 at 3pm on Feb. 3. For all testifiers, including those on Zoom, we ask that you stand on your written testimony.

If your oral testimony is different from your written testimony, the time limit for each testifier will be two minutes. The content, including the hearing notice, copies of the bills and testimony can be found on the Legislature's website. If time permits for decision making, we will make the decision making occur after testimony is being offered.

With that, our first measure on the agenda is SB111 relating to hurricane resistant criteria. First, from HI EMA Administrator James Barros. In support and Comptroller Keith Regan.

From DAGS chairs, Vice Chair Members Keith. Regan, Comptroller, State of Hawaii, Department of Accounting and General Services. Stand on our testimony providing comments.

Okay. Stand on testimony providing comments. That completes our list of registered testifiers for SB11. Anyone else in the audience that wishes to testify on this measure, if not Members, questions? All right, I'll turn it over to the chair of gvo.

All right, thank you very much, Co Chair. Appreciate it greatly. Okay, next up, Senate Bill 239 relating to disaster preparedness. This requires all public buildings, including public school buildings constructed after January 12026 to be designed to withstand category Cat 5 hurricanes and to be used as shelters in the event of an emergency.

Overall, first off we have is Tommy Johnson.

Good afternoon. Chair Zelefante McKelvey, Vice Chairs and Members of both committees. I'm Tommy Johnson, the Director of the Department of Corrections Rehabilitation. I'll just summarize my testimony. We stand in support of this measure. We do believe that all our correctional facilities should be able to withstand Cat 5.

That's why we are looking at trying to replace the Oahu Community Correctional Center, KCCC and mccc. However, our capacity to hold other individuals to shelter other individuals would be limited. But. But we could make some space with planning. We would work with the emergency managers for the city and county in the state to do that.

Thank you, sir. Tayashi Department of Education with comments says he's in person. Thought I saw him outside. Nope.

Next up, Insurance Division, Jerry Bump, Chief Deputy Insurance Commissioner.

Thank you. We also have Stella Cam, Deputy AGAM Deputy attest. Okay. No. Thank you so much.

Comptroller, Chair's Vice Chair Members, Keith Regan, Comptroller, State of Hawaii Primary General Services. We stand on our written testimony providing comments.

Okay, thank you so much. We have Jane Barrows Haima written in support. Dr. Keone Dudley. Is he on Zoom?

He is present on Zoom Chair.

Okay, go ahead, sir. You got two minutes. Fire away.

Okay. Can you hear me? Yep, we can hear you. Okay. I'm Dr. Keona Dudley. The point has been made that buildings which receive appropriations in this session will be caught without enough funding.

So I would cross out the constructed after January 12026 and add and for which appropriations are made in the 2026 legislative and county Council sessions and in the years following. And I think we need to be more specific about wind speeds and access to bathrooms.

To the words designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes, I would add with wind speeds of 200 mph wind speed and have interior passages to bathrooms.

Section 2D then would read, all public buildings, including public school buildings, that can reasonably be used as hurricane shelters and for which appropriations are made in the 2026 legislative and county Council sessions and in the years following shall be designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes with winds of 200 mph and to have interior passages to bathrooms so that they can be used as shelters in the event of an emergency.

That's the end of my comments. I thank you very much.

Thank you, sir. We appreciate you sharing that with us. Have a good weekend. Okay, next up we have Mike Goliath, Senior. Senior. Written in support. I believe that's all we have on 239. Is there anybody else in the audience or in ZOOM World wishing to testify? Seeing none. Members questions on this Bill. Okay, Seeing none.

We are going to move on to the next one. Final one, Senate Bill 998. This is relates to the Hawaii First Responders Memorial, which would appropriate funds to DAGs to hire a consultant to evaluate potential locations and designs for the Hawaii First Responders Memorial. First we have up is the Comptroller.

Chairs, Vice Chair, Members services, standard testimony.

Okay, let's see. We also have Honolulu City Council Radiant Cordero, the floor leader thereof, Written support. Jason Pablo, the administrative battalion chief for County of Kauai Fire Department. Written in support. Mike Frombe, Managing Director, sitting County Honolulu. Written in support, we have Kamakana Kaimolua, upw, Sir. Sorry.

Good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee to unify on behalf of upw. And we stand in support of this measure.

Thank you so Much, sir, we appreciate you being here. And finally, Eddie Fujioka individual and he is submitted written in opposition. That's all. That was late. That's all we have on the measure. Is there anybody in the audience wishing to testify? Anybody in zoom? If not Members, are there any questions? If not, we'll recess for decision making.

Reconvening the joint committees on Public Safety, Military Affairs and Government Operations. This is the 3:00 p.m. Joint Hearing. First up on SB111. This is relating to hurricane resistant criteria. The Chairs have conferred. We'd like to pass with amendments first on page 3, lines 1 and 2.

Change the date for constructed on or after to July 1, 2026 and any technical amendments. Any discussion, Members? Okay. If not, Vice Chair. Chair votes aye. For the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs.

[Roll Call] Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Okay, thank you very much. Committee on Government Operations. We do not have quorum. We are going to go along with the same recommendations as the Previous Committee. However, we will vote this officially on a reconvene Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 3:00 p.m. in Conference Room 2. Okay, next up, the next two bills. Senate Bill 239. Senate Bill 998.

As I mentioned before, we don't have quorum so we will be voting these on Tuesday. However, our good friends from public safety do and would like to move on these measures on their end today.

So that the recommendation we have for 239 is to remove correctional facilities from sheltering the public, exempt structures from sheltering that are not fully enclosed or able to shelter a large population that is covered playgrounds or huge sheds, change public buildings to state buildings and then to go ahead and to go ahead and we're still going to leave the constructed after January 1, 2026 despite the suggestion of the appropriation language.

And then we're also going to accept DAG's language as well. So that's what we tend to vote on and that's our recommendation for both committees.

Okay. Noting GVO's deferred decision making for the Committee on PSM. We're going to vote as recommended from GVO. Vice Chair. Chair votes Aye, with amendments.

Voting the presence of all Members. Any opposition or reservation should chair's recommendation you pass this measure with amendments. Her non sharing recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Okay, next one. Senate Bill 998. Our intention is to vote this out on Tuesday and given the support for this, we want to move them so long Our recommendation for both committees is is the go as is okay.

For PSM as is. Vice Chair for the vote.

Voting the presence of all Members. Is there any opposition or reservations to the Chair's recommendation we pass this measure as is. Seen and heard none. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Okay, this concludes the Joint Hearing. Thank you, everybody. Have a good weekend.

Great afternoon again. Welcome back. This is the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs. This is our 310 agenda. Few housekeeping announcements. Today is January 31st and we're in Conference Room 225. This hearing is also being streamed on the Hawaii State Senate's YouTube channel.

In the unlikely case of technical failures, this meeting will reconvene here in Conference Room 225 at 3pm on February 3rd. For all testifiers, including those on Zoom, we ask that you stand on your written testimony. If your oral testimony is different from your written testimony, the time limit will be one minute.

The content including the hearing notice copies. Hearing notice copies of the bills and testimony can be found on the Legislature's website if time permits. Decision making worker. After we hear from all those offering testimony and please note for those testifying, if you could state your name for the record before you begin your testimony.

First up on Our agenda is SB13881 relating to the Hawaii National Guard. And first on our list is Ms. Major Joseph R. Harris II. Yes.

Colonel Nagatani. I'm testifying on behalf of Major General Harris. My name is Colonel Nagatani and I'm representing the Hawaiian National Guard. We stand on the testimony that we submitted and I'm here to answer.

Okay, thank you. Colonel Nagatani, testimony and support. Yeah, thank you. The Adjutant General Stephen E. F Logan, testifying for the Department of Defense. Ya, Colonel.

Yes, testifying in support. And I stand on written testimony we submitted.

Testifiing in support. That concludes our list of testifiers for SB 1381. Anyone else in the audience are on Zoom that wishes to testify on this measure? Okay, if not Members questions, we'll move on to Our next item, SB 1382 relating to the Hawaii National Guard.

First on our list is the Director of the Joint Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Walter R. Ross Jr.

Good afternoon. Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. I'm Brigadier General Ross, Director of Joint Staff, Hawaii National Guard. Stand on my testimony in support of the bill as Brigadier.

Okay, Testimony and support as written. Thank you very much. The Adjutant General for the Department of Defense, Stephen F. Leviticus Logan.

Captain, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. General Ross, on behalf of General Logan, stand on support as written testimony.

Okay, thank you. In support. And our last on register testifier list is Captain Thomas Chang for the Honolulu Police Department on Zoom.

Okay. Sorry. Good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair and Members of the community. Members, I am Captain Thomas Chang from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Honolulu Police Department. HPD supports this Bill 871. I'm sorry, Senate Bill 1382. And we stand by a written testimony and we think National Guard Members are just as important as our emergency workers.

I'm here to answer any of your questions. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you so much, Captain. That completes our list of registered testifiers. Anyone else that wishes to testify in SB 1382 thought Members questions? I have a question for the Department of Defense. If you could come forward, please, could you explain why the Department of Defense needs this bill to change statute?

Good afternoon, Chair. General Ross, as we look at the history of what we do for the State of Hawaii, normal times of operation, we find ourselves in high crisis response mode in support for law enforcement. And in these times when we are in support of law enforcement, granted, our duties and responsibilities are to support and provide security.

In certain instances, there are times when we do engage belligerent individuals. Some of these individuals may not be understanding of our role as National Guardsmen in support of law enforcement. And then an altercation may ensue. For those instances, it's a misdemeanor.

Currently, as it states, class C felony is where it should be and providing us protection that we need in doing our duties in support of the State of Hawaii.

Thank you, General Ross. Members, any other questions? If not, thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Next up is SB 1379 relating to emergency preparedness. First on our list is Director from DOTAX, Gary S. Suganuma.

My name is Winston Wong. I'm the Administrative Rules Officer, Department of Taxation. On behalf of Director Suganuma, the department has submitted comments and testimony has comments. I'll be available for questions if you have any.

Okay, DOTAX with comments. Thank you. Next is the Adjutant General Stephen F. Logan for DOD, in support. That you, General Ross?

Yes, sir. In support.

Okay. Thank you. In support, Administrator for Hyema, James Barrows. In support, Tom Yamachika, testifying for the Tax Foundation of Hawaii on Zoom.

Offering comments not present on Zoom, Chair.

Present on Zoom. Our last person on a registered testifier list is Victor K. Ramos. In opposition. That completes our list of registered testifiers. Anyone in the audience that wants to testify on SB 1379 Members questions. If not, move on to Our next item. SB609 relating to the Office of Veteran Services.

First on our list is John P. Alamodin, testifying for the Office of Veteran Services, OVS.

Good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair. My name is John P. Alamodin. I am the Director for the Office of Veteran Services. The extent of support of our written testimony that we have submitted standing on that position always come did want to express our sincere thanks to the sponsor this day.

Actually, if you can just come up if you're going to have more than a few remarks, Colonel. And if you could just state your name for the record and if you don't mind repeating it and we'll start the timer IT. Thank you for being with us.

Thank you, Chair, Vice Chair. John P. Alamodin, Director for Office of Veterans Services. We did want to express also in support of this Bill that our sincere thanks with regard to the sponsors of this measure.

Certainly it's a testament to my predecessor, Colonel Ron Hahn, over his work over three governors, administrators, administrations before his passing in August of 2023. So very much grateful for the support and for our continued efforts.

Okay, thank you so much Director. Jamie Shadel testifying for Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Hawaii. I have him listed as in person. William K. Chang in support and Michael Golojuch Sr. in support. That completes our list of testifiers that are registered. Anyone else that wishes to testify in SB609, if not Members Questions.

Move on to our last Item which is SB 1377 relating to Veterans cemeteries. First on our list is Director John P. Alamodin.

John P. Alamodin, Director of Office of Veterans Services. Chair, Vice Chair and Stand in support of the written testimony. Thank you.

In support. Thank you. Testifying for DOD addressant General Stephen F. Logan.

General Ross on behalf of General Logan. Stand with written testimony in support.

Okay. In support. Thank you. And last is Mike Gulachuch Sr. in support. That's the end of our list of registered testifiers. Anyone else that wishes to testify in SB 1377 if not Members? Questions. Okay with that. Members, if you're okay, we're going to go into decision making. All right.

For Our first Bill SB 1381 recommendation is to pass with technical amendments. Any further discussion, if not Vice Chair. Chair votes Aye.

[Roll Call] Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you so much, Vice Chair. For Our next item, SB 1382 relating to the national. The National Guard recommendation is to pass as is any further discussion. If not Vice Chair for the vote.

Noting the presence of all Members, any opposition or reservations to the Chair's recommendation. We pass this measure as is. Seeing and hearing none. Chair your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you so much, Vice Chair. Next item is SB 1379 relating to emergency preparedness. Recommendation is to pass with technical amendments. Any further discussion if not Vice Chair for the vote.

Voting the presence of all Members. Any opposition or reservations to the Chair's recommendation you pass this measure with amendments. Seeing and hearing none. Chair your recommendation is adopted.

Okay for our next item is SB609 relating to the Office of Veteran Services recommendations to pass with amendments on page one line 2. Blank out the appropriations on page two line 5.

Change the effective date to July 1, 2077 and then add any other technical amendments with that any further discussion on the recommendation if not, Vice Chair for the vote.

Noting the presence of all Members any opposition or reservations to the Chair's recommendation we pass this measure with amendments. Having seen and heard none. Chair your recommendation is adopted.

Okay and for our last item SB 1377 relating to Veteran cemeteries recommendation is to pass with technical amendments Any further discussion okay if not Vice Chair for the vote.

Noting the presence of all Members any opposition or reservation to the Chair's recommendation, we pass this measure with amendments. Having seen and heard none. Chair your recommendation is adopted.

Okay that completes our agenda for today. We're adjourned.