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--- version:HB902+++ version:HB902_HD1@@ -1,125 +1,109 @@-HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--H.B. NO.--902--THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025-+HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ~ 902+THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 IN H’D. 1STATE OF HAWAII-A BILL FOR AN ACT--relating-to education.-+RELATING TO EDUCATION.BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:--���� SECTION-1.� The legislature finds that Hawaiian Electric-Company's Planned Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program, implemented on-July 1, 2024, aims to reduce wildfire risks by proactively shutting off power-in high-risk areas during specific weather conditions. �While the PSPS program is critical for public-safety, the program's implementation poses significant operational challenges-for public schools.� Currently, fifteen-department of education schools and one public charter school are identified as-vulnerable to PSPS events.� These power-outages may disrupt essential services, including communication systems, water-access, meal programs, and accommodations for students and staff reliant on-electricity-dependent medical devices or assistive technologies.--���� The-legislature further finds that maintaining school operations during PSPS events-is vital to ensuring educational continuity, providing access to meals, and-sustaining a sense of normalcy for students.�-This is especially critical for students in remote or rural areas, where-schools often serve as essential community hubs.� To meet this need, schools must prepare for-prolonged power outages by implementing measures such as backup power-solutions, access to shelf-stable food and clean water, and fire safety-protocols.--���� The-legislature notes that the devastating wildfire in Lahaina in August 2023-underscored the importance of preparedness and inter-agency coordination in-mitigating the impacts of emergencies.�-The United States Department of Education's after-action report-highlighted areas for improvement, many of which align with the challenges-posed by the PSPS program.--���� The-legislature also notes that the department of education has implemented-measures to support recovery and resilience for Maui schools affected by the-Lahaina wildfire.� These include monthly-working group meetings to address fire mitigation, hazardous brush clearance,-and community engagement.� Funds from the-federal Project School Emergency Response to Violence grant have been allocated-for critical recovery efforts, including mental health services, transportation-for displaced students, and substitute teachers to support staff well-being.--���� The-legislature recognizes that lessons learned from the Lahaina wildfire and the-department of education's subsequent actions provide a strong foundation for-addressing the challenges of the PSPS program.�-However, additional funding is essential to implement long-term-solutions, such as establishing regional hubs equipped with emergency supplies,-procuring backup power sources, and providing comprehensive training for-staff.� These efforts will ensure schools-can remain operational during PSPS events, safeguarding the well-being of-students and staff while maintaining access to essential services.� The legislature believes that further insight-is needed on ways to support schools that may be impacted by the PSPS program,-including:--���� (1)� Assessing the viability of using alternative-power solutions, such as generators and solar battery systems, for planned-safety power shutoff identified schools;--���� (2)� Establishing regional resource hubs equipped-with essential supplies, including water, shelf-stable food, and backup-communication tools, to ensure continuity of operations at and schools affected-during power outages;--���� (3)� Developing contingency plans to enable schools-to remain open and safe during power outages and providing related training;-and--���� (4)� Enhancing fire safety measures and-accommodations for students and employees with electricity-dependent needs.--���� Accordingly,-the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of education-to conduct a study on methods that will help support schools impacted by the-Hawaiian Electric Company's Planned Public Safety Power Shutoff program.--���� SECTION-2.� There is appropriated out of the-general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much-thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so-much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the department of education to conduct a study on methods-to support department schools that may be impacted by the Hawaiian Electric-Company's Planned Public Safety Power Shutoff program.--���� The sums appropriated shall be expended by the-department of education for the purposes of this Act.--���� SECTION 3.� This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.--INTRODUCED BY:--_____________________________-+1 SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaiian Electric+2 Companyts Planned Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program,+3 implemented on July 1, 2024, aims to reduce wildfire risks by+4 proactively shutting off power in high-risk areas during+5 specific weather conditions. While the PSPS program and other+6 similar programs are critical for public safety, their+7 implementation pose significant operational challenges for+8 public schools. Currently, fifteen department of education+9 schools and one public charter school are identified as+10 vulnerable to PSPS events. These power outages may disrupt+11 essential services, including communication systems, water+12 access, meal programs, and accommodations for students and staff+13 reliant on electricity-dependent medical devices or assistive+14 technologies.+15 The legislature further finds that maintaining school+16 operations during PSPS events is vital to ensuring educational+17 continuity, providing access to meals, and sustaining a sense of+2025—1580 HB902 HD1 HMSO+Page2 I—I.B. NO. ~+1 normalcy for students. This is especially critical for students+2 in remote or rural areas, where schools often serve as essential+3 community hubs. To meet this need, schools must prepare for+4 prolonged power outages by implementing measures such as backup+5 power solutions, access to shelf-stable food and clean water,+6 and fire safety protocols.+7 The legislature notes that the devastating wildfire in+8 Lahaina in August 2023 underscored the importance of+9 preparedness and inter-agency coordination in mitigating the+10 impacts of emergencies. The United States Department of+11 Education’s after-action report highlighted areas for+12 improvement, many of which align with the challenges posed by+13 the PSPS program.+14 The legislature also notes that the department of education+15 has implemented measures to support recovery and resilience for+16 Maui schools affected by the Lahaina. wildfire. These include+17 monthly working group meetings to address fire mitigation,+18 hazardous brush clearance, and community engagement. Funds from+19 the federal Project School Emergency Response to Violence grant+20 have been allocated for critical recovery efforts, including+2025—1580 HB902 HD1 HMSO 2+Page 3+H.B. NO. ~i+1 mental health services, transportation for displaced students,+2 and substitute teachers to support staff well-being.+3 The legislature recognizes that lessons learned from the+4 Lahaina wildfire and the department of education’s subsequent+5 actions provide a strong foundation for addressing the+6 challenges of the PSPS program. However, additional funding is+7 essential to implement long-term solutions, such as establishing+8 regional hubs equipped with emergency supplies, produring backup+9 power sources, and providing comprehensive training for staff.+10 These efforts will ensure schools can remain operational during+11 PSPS events, safeguarding the well-being of students and staff+12 while maintaining access to essential services. The legislature+13 believes that further insight is needed on ways to support+14 schools that may be impacted by the PSPS program and other+15 similar programs, including:+16 (1) Assessing the viability of using alternative power+17 solutions, such as generators and solar battery+18 systems, for planned safety power shutoff identified+19 schools;+20 (2) Establishing regional resource hubs equipped with+21 essential supplies, including water, shelf-stable+2025—1580 H3902 HD1 HMSO 3+Page4 H.B. NO. ~+1 food, and backup communication tools, to ensure+2 continuity of operations at and schools affected+3 during power outages;+4 (3) Developing contingency plans to enable schools to+5 remain open and safe during power outages and+6 providing related training; and+7 (4) Enhancing fire safety measures and accommodations for+8 students and employees with electricity-dependent+9 needs.+10 Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate+11 funds to the department of education to conduct a study on+12 methods that will help support schools impacted by electric+13 utilities’ planned public safety power shutoff program.+14 SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general+15 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much+16 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the+17 same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year+18 2026-2027 to the department of education to conduct a study on+19 methods to support department schools that may be impacted by+20 electric utilities’ planned public safety power shutoff program.+2025—1580 H8902 HD1 HMSO 4+Page5 H.B. NcJ. ~+1 The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department+2 of education for the purposes of this Act.+3 SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.+2025—1580 HB902 HD1 HMSO 5+H.B. NO. ~iReport Title:--Department-of Education; Planned Public Safety Power Shutoff; Hawaiian Electric Company;-Appropriation-+Department of Education; Planned Public Safety Power Shutoff;+Hawaiian Electric Company; AppropriationDescription:--Appropriates-funds to the Department of Education to conduct a study on methods to-support department schools that may be impacted-by the Hawaiian Electric Company's Planned Public Safety Power Shutoff program.--The summary description-of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is+Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to conduct a+study on methods to support department schools that may be+impacted by electric utilities’ planned public safety power+shutoff program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)+The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and isnot legislation or evidence of legislative intent.+2025—1580 HB902 HD1 HMSO
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