Hawaii Senate Bill SR186

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

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

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

The resolution points to a significant change in the operational landscape of Hawaii's airports following the termination of the Safe Travels Program and Emergency Proclamation on March 25, 2022. The installed thermal equipment, at a substantial initial cost of $27 million, now needs a strategic plan for its future use to ensure it continues to serve a public safety purpose. The importance of this equipment was underscored during the pandemic but now faces uncertainty as the immediate health crisis subsides.

Summary

Senate Resolution 186, introduced during the Thirty-first Legislature of Hawaii in 2022, requests the Department of Transportation to devise a plan for the cost-effective disposition of thermal screening and tracing camera equipment as well as associated operations. This resolution comes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the state installed such equipment at its major airports as a critical measure to ensure safe air travel. The thermal camera systems were used to detect travelers with a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, assisting in identifying potential SARS-CoV-2 positive passengers.

Contention

While the resolution seems straightforward in requesting a plan for repurposing the thermal equipment, discussions may arise concerning the best use of these public assets. Stakeholders including airport officials and public health experts will have to determine whether the equipment can continue to play a role in airport security and safety, or if it should be dismantled or sold. The necessity to maintain a balance between cost-efficiency and public health readiness is expected to be a point of contention among various state and local entities involved.