Sen. Glenn Wakai

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution formally recognizes open water lifeguards in Hawaii as first responders, acknowledging their critical role in emergency response, public safety, and community wellbeing. The bill highlights that these lifeguards are among the first to arrive at emergency scenes, often operating alongside police and firefighters, and are trained in emergency medical response, rescue techniques, and scene management. While the resolution does not create new laws or funding, it urges state and county agencies to adopt this recognition and ensure lifeguards receive the same rights, resources, training support, and professional respect as other first responders. This symbolic measure aims to validate the essential work lifeguards perform in hazardous ocean environments and on land, distinguishing them from pool lifeguards due to the higher risks and broader emergency responsibilities they face.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution formally recognizes open water lifeguards across Hawaii as first responders, acknowledging their critical role in emergency response, public safety, and community wellbeing. The bill highlights that these lifeguards are often among the first to arrive at emergency scenes, perform life-saving medical interventions, and operate in hazardous ocean and shoreline environments similar to police and firefighters. While the resolution does not change laws or grant new legal rights directly, it urges state and county agencies to ensure lifeguards receive the same resources, training support, and professional respect as other first responders. The measure applies to all open water lifeguards in the state, including those designated as ocean safety or water safety officers in different counties.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution expresses legislative support for the Hawaiʻi Water Safety Coalition's comprehensive water safety plan, which aims to address the state's high drowning rates and reduce drowning deaths among children and visitors. The resolution urges state agencies, including the Department of Health and Department of Land and Natural Resources, to collaborate with the coalition to implement key recommendations such as establishing the coalition as a central water safety authority, expanding funding for drowning prevention programs, and improving safety measures at pools and flood control structures. The plan also calls for culturally competent water safety education, free swimming lessons for children, and better access to public pools in underserved communities, while encouraging compliance with national pool safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Governor and Hawaii's Department of Health to work with the U.S. Department of Defense and military partners to explore creating a partnership between military and civilian trauma care systems. The bill specifically targets Tripier Army Medical Center, requesting it be evaluated as a potential receiving facility for civilian trauma patients within Hawaii's existing trauma network. Key provisions include studying opportunities for the military hospital to accept civilian patients, examining ways to fund such care, and investigating regulatory changes needed for reimbursement. The resolution also calls for developing tele-trauma consultation services to help rural hospitals with patient assessment and triage. The Department of Health must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges all state and county agencies in Hawaii that handle construction projects to create public websites showing payment details for contractors and subcontractors. The bill asks these agencies to display information about job progress, payments made, and retainage amounts within one year, following a model already used by the Public Works Division. Agencies unable to implement this system must explain their barriers to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 session. The resolution also thanks the Public Works Division for its work and sends copies to relevant government officials and industry associations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Department of Accounting and General Services to create a working group to study and improve how state projects get county building permits. The group will include representatives from various state agencies and county officials to research delays and suggest ways to streamline the process. Members must submit their findings and recommendations to the Legislature by 2028, which could lead to new laws if needed. This resolution does not change any laws immediately but sets up a study to address permit delays affecting state projects.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the U.S. Department of Defense to create a working group that would study and recommend how Hawaii could establish its own commemorative medal for Vietnam War veterans living in the state. The proposed group would include state officials, representatives from local veterans organizations, and other interested parties to develop eligibility rules, application procedures, and design concepts for the medal. The working group must submit its findings and any proposed legislation to the Hawaii Legislature by late 2027, along with cost estimates for creating and distributing the medal. This bill does not create the medal itself but initiates a process to explore whether such a state award is feasible and how it would be implemented.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies to form a working group aimed at addressing how climate change is affecting insurance availability and costs for residents. The proposed group would include officials from the Insurance Division, Attorney General, and various legislative committees to study insurance risks from extreme weather events. Key tasks include evaluating current recovery options and exploring legal strategies to seek financial compensation from fossil fuel companies, which the resolution identifies as responsible for climate-related damages. The measure focuses on protecting state resources and ensuring affordable insurance coverage without mandating specific policy changes or taking a stance on liability.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution urges all state and county agencies in Hawaii that handle construction projects to create public websites showing payment information for contractors and subcontractors. The bill asks these agencies to display details about job progress, payments made, and retained funds within one year of the resolution's adoption. It specifically thanks the Public Works Division for its existing transparency efforts and requests agencies unable to comply explain their barriers to the Legislature. While the resolution does not mandate immediate legal changes, it sets a timeline for agencies to report on their progress and consider future legislation to improve payment transparency in public construction.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide an update on the findings of a 2022 proof-of-concept study titled Breaking Cycles, which explored alternative rehabilitation and restorative justice models for the Oahu Community Correctional Center. The bill asks the department to report on how the study's recommendations have been incorporated into plans for a new correctional facility and to include feedback from incarcerated individuals, staff, families, and community stakeholders. The Department must submit this report to the Legislature at least 20 days before the 2027 Regular Session begins, with any proposed legislation included in the submission. This measure focuses on oversight and information gathering rather than implementing specific policy changes.