HB 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 (Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, and Honolulu) and statewide to assess emergency preparedness and identify community vulnerabilities.

• CASPER surveys must address basic household information, COVID-19 knowledge and practices, high-risk populations, mental health impacts, financial impacts related to employment and housing, communication sources, and food security and other emergency preparedness elements.

• Department of Health shall coordinate with county emergency management agencies and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to develop the survey and utilize multiple notification methods including press releases, radio advertisements, and social media.

• Survey participants must provide informed consent and shall have options to participate via telephone or socially-distanced outdoor interviews; Department must provide educational materials on COVID-19 and available social services to participants.

• Department of Health must submit findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation from the CASPER analyses to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the 2022 regular session convening.