Hawaii Senate Bill SCR22

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/4/25
• Refer: 3/6/25
• Report Pass: 4/1/25
• Engrossed: 4/2/25
• Refer: 4/4/25
• Refer: 4/14/25
• Report Pass: 4/17/25

Caption

Requesting The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency To Collaborate With Relevant Agencies To Develop Initiatives And Outreach Programs To Inform Kupuna About Emergency Preparedness.

Summary

SCR22 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) to work with other emergency management offices across the state to develop initiatives and outreach programs that help kupuna understand and prepare for emergencies. The resolution is framed around Hawaii’s exposure to hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other disasters, and it emphasizes that older adults are especially vulnerable because of mobility limits, chronic health conditions, and barriers to accessing technology and emergency information. The resolution specifically encourages collaboration with the Department of Emergency Management of the City and County of Honolulu, the Civil Defense Agency of the County of Hawaii, the Emergency Management Agency of the County of Maui, and the Emergency Management Agency of the County of Kauai. It also directs that copies of the resolution be sent to the heads of those agencies, signaling an intent to coordinate statewide and county-level outreach rather than create a new standalone program.

Impact

SCR22 does not amend the Hawaii Revised Statutes or create enforceable duties; it is a nonbinding concurrent resolution expressing legislative intent and requesting agency action. Its practical impact would be to encourage HI-EMA and county emergency management agencies to develop education, preparedness, and outreach efforts tailored to older adults, potentially affecting how emergency preparedness information is distributed and how community outreach is prioritized for kupuna.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows clear support and no recorded opposition in committee, with the measure passing both Senate committees unanimously and without amendment. The resolution’s tone is preventive and supportive, reflecting broad agreement that improving emergency preparedness for older adults is a worthwhile public-safety goal. No committee transcript discussion was provided, so there is no evidence of significant debate in the available record.

Contention

There is little visible contention in the available materials. The only possible policy question suggested by the text is whether the requested outreach should be handled through existing agency resources or whether additional funding, staffing, or program design would be needed to make the effort effective. Because the resolution is advisory rather than mandatory, any concern would likely center on implementation burden and interagency coordination rather than on the underlying goal of helping kupuna prepare for disasters.