Bill > HB596

This bill modifies the legal definitions of "disaster" and "emergency" in Hawaii's emergency management statutes to provide more precise and comprehensive descriptions. The revised definition of "disaster" expands the scope to include a wide range of potential events that could cause widespread damage or loss, such as natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, floods), human-caused incidents (fires, explosions, terrorism), and public health crises (disease outbreaks, bioterrorism). The definition now explicitly lists potential scenarios and emphasizes situations that may require assistance from other counties, states, the federal government, or private agencies. Similarly, the definition of "emergency" is refined to focus on occurrences that could cause catastrophic harm to populations, property, or the environment, with an added emphasis on the ability to take timely action to avert or minimize potential damage. These changes aim to provide greater clarity and specificity in identifying and responding to potential emergencies, which could help improve the state's emergency management and response capabilities. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2050.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=596&year=2026