STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1631

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.C.R. No. 39

S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 39, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I TO UTILIZE THE DATA RESULTING FROM THE 2020 UNITED STATES CENSUS TO ESTABLISH, IF ALLOWABLE, A METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the County of Hawaii to establish a metropolitan planning organization (MPO), if allowable.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Transportation.

Your Committee finds that MPOs were established to serve as a forum for collaboration among local communities and government agencies and to direct federal funds toward projects that increase access to opportunity and prosperity through improved multimodal pedestrian, bicycle, and transit options.  According to federal regulation, an MPO requires an urban area with a population of more than fifty thousand individuals.  As the population of the County of Hawaii in 2016 was 198,691 people, your Committee finds it appropriate that the County should have their own MPO.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 39, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair