HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
596
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:
SECTION 1. Section 127A-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By amending the definition of "disaster" to read:
""Disaster" means [[Struck through: any emergency,]] [Underlined: the occurrence] or imminent threat [[Struck through: thereof, which re][Struck through: sults ][Struck through: or may likely result in]] [Underlined: of widespread or severe damage, injury, or] loss of life, property, or environment [Underlined: resulting from any sudden natural or artificial cause, including hurricanes, windstorms, floods, extreme rain events, earthquakes, landslides, mudslides, volcanic action, tsunamis, fires, explosions, air or water contamination, blight, droughts, infestations, riots, sabotage, hostile military or paramilitary action, disruption of state services, hazardous material accidents, disease or contagion outbreaks, bioterrorism, terrorism, or incidents involving weapons of mass destruction,] and requires, or may require, assistance from other counties, states, the federal government, or from private agencies."
2. By amending the definition of "emergency" to read:
""Emergency" means [[Struck through: any]] [Underlined: the] occurrence, or imminent threat thereof, [[Struck through: which results or may likely result in substantial injury or]] [Underlined: of a disaster that causes or may be likely to cause catastrophic] harm [Underlined: and immediate danger] to the population [[Struck through: or]][Underlined: ,] substantial damage to or loss of property[Underlined: ,] or substantial damage to or loss of the environment[[Struck through: .]] [Underlined: and that timely action can avert or minimize.]"
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Emergency Management; Disasters; Emergencies; Definitions
Description:
Clarifies the types of events that constitute disasters and emergencies for the purposes of emergency management.
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