Hawaii Senate Bill SCR193

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/11/22
• Refer: 3/16/22
• Report Pass: 4/1/22
• Engrossed: 4/4/22
• Refer: 4/4/22
• Report Pass: 4/18/22
• Refer: 4/18/22
• Report Pass: 4/22/22
• Passed: 4/25/22

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Transportation To Develop A Plan For The Cost-effective Disposition Of The Safe Travels Thermal Screening And Tracing Camera Equipment And Other Related Operations.

Impact

With the expiration of the Safe Travels Program and related emergency provisions, the resolution stipulates that there is a need to repurpose this equipment for airport safety and security. It emphasizes fiscal responsibility in the management of state resources, recommending that the Department of Transportation collaborate with airport stakeholders to identify effective uses for the existing technology. This is aimed at not only preserving the financial investment made in the equipment but also continuing to ensure the safety of travelers in a post-pandemic environment.

Summary

Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR193 requests the Department of Transportation to develop a plan for the cost-effective disposition of thermal screening and tracing camera equipment that was utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic. This equipment was crucial for the Safe Travels Program, which aimed to safeguard the safety of travelers arriving in Hawaii by monitoring potential COVID-19 symptoms, specifically elevated temperatures. The total cost for the installation of this technology was approximately $27 million at the state’s five major airports.

Contention

As SCR193 moves forward, it may prompt discussions regarding the efficacy and necessity of maintaining such health monitoring systems at airports, especially as pandemic regulations are lifted. Stakeholders might debate whether the state should redirect these resources to other areas of public health or transportation, reflecting differing priorities in state policy. Ensuring that measures remain in place to monitor public health without burdening travelers with excessive restrictions could present points of contention among legislators and the public.