H.B. 1301 Summary

• Requires the department of health to conduct Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) surveys for each of Hawaii's four counties and statewide to assess emergency preparedness and identify community vulnerabilities.

• Survey shall address household information, COVID-19 knowledge and practices, high-risk populations, mental health impacts, financial impacts (employment, housing, food security), communication sources, and other emergency preparedness elements.

• Department of health must coordinate with county emergency management agencies and Hawaii emergency management agency to develop the CASPER survey and use multiple notification methods including press releases, radio advertisements, and social media.

• Survey shall be conducted using social distancing protocols with options for telephone or socially distanced outdoor interviews, and shall include distribution of educational materials on COVID-19 and available social services.

• Department of health must submit report with findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days before the 2022 regular session convenes.