SB609 Summary

• Establishes a Homeland Security and Resiliency Council within the Office of Homeland Security to develop strategies and recommendations for enhancing electric grid and critical infrastructure security in Hawaii.

• Council membership includes state directors (Homeland Security, State Energy Office, Office of Planning, Emergency Management), county officials (emergency management, water supply, environmental services), Public Utilities Commission chairperson, and representatives from electric utilities, gas utilities, telecommunications companies, fuel importers/refiners, and water carriers.

• Council duties include establishing goals and priorities to enhance critical infrastructure resiliency, assessing existing resources, identifying revenue sources, and submitting biennial reports to the governor, legislature, and county officials beginning no later than 20 days prior to the 2020 regular legislative session.

• Council must protect sensitive information that could damage public security under existing public records exemptions and may request participation from emergency preparedness experts and other officials as necessary.

• Appropriates unspecified funds from general revenues for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 to be expended by the Office of Homeland Security.