Hawaii SB 2385: RELATING TO DISASTER SERVICES.

Bill Text

THE SENATE
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII S.B. NO. 2385
JAN 21 2026
A BILL FORAN ACT
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RELATING TO DISASTER SERVICES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that one in five
residents in Hawaii has a disability, and many require
functional or access support before, during, and after
disasters. These individuals often encounter disproportionate
risks, including difficulty evacuating without proper supports,
lack of accessible transportation, barriers to receiving
emergency alerts and evacuation orders in formats they can
understand, and obstacles in accessing shelters, emergency
medical care, and post-disaster relief programs such as housing,
food, and financial assistance.
The legislature further finds that in the immediate
aftermath of the 2023 Maui wildfires, many individuals with
disabilities faced significant barriers to accessing emergency
shelters and services. Shelters often lacked physical
accessibility, disability-trained staff, and coordinated
resources to address medical and functional needs. Nonprofit
organizations and community members stepped in to fill these
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S.B. NO.
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gaps, but the lack of a planned, coordinated response by state
and county agencies highlighted systemic inequities in disaster
preparedness and response for individuals with disabilities.
The legislature additionally finds that while the
legislature passed Act 210, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, to
establish a limited English proficiency language access
coordinator within the Hawaii emergency management agency, that
position addresses only the needs of limited English proficient
individuals under state and federal language access laws.
Importantly, American Sign Language (ASL) does not fall under
the language access law, as ASL is not a foreign language but a
distinct language of the deaf community. The rights of
individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or have other
disabilities arise under the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA), not language access statutes.
Accordingly, there remains a critical gap in disaster
services planning and response for individuals with
disabilities, including those who use ASL and those with access
and functional needs. A disability integration specialist,
serving as the State's emergency management specialist within
the Hawaii emergency management agency, is needed to ensure
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S.B. NO. 238S
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compliance with the ADA and related federal and state disability
laws, coordinate disability-related planning, and guarantee
accessible disaster services for all individuals with
disabilities.
The legislature further finds that section 308 of the
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(Stafford Act, P.L. 93-288, as amended) requires entities
receiving Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to
ensure equitable access to disaster services for individuals
with disabilities. FEMA guidance also requires disability
integration throughout emergency management, emphasizing
planning, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Add disability-related planning, preparedness,
response, recovery, and mitigation to the designated
functions of the Hawaii emergency management agency;
and
(2) Appropriate funds to the Hawaii emergency management
agency for the establishment of a disability
integration specialist, serving as the emergency
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management specialist, and programming support for
disability community projects.
SECTION 2. Section 127A-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
"(e) The agency shall perform emergency management
functions within the territorial limits of the State. In
performing its duties, the agency shall:
(1) Prepare a state comprehensive emergency management
plan, which shall be integrated into and coordinated
with the emergency management plans of the federal
government. The plan shall be integrated by a
continuous, integrated comprehensive emergency
management program. The plan shall contain provisions
to ensure that the State prepares for, mitigates
against, responds to, and recovers from emergencies
and minor, major, and catastrophic disasters. In
preparing and maintaining the plan, the agency shall
work closely with agencies and organizations with
emergency management responsibilities;
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(2) Assign lead and support responsibilities to state
agencies and personnel for emergency management
functions and other support activities;
(3) Adopt standards and requirements for c