STAND. COM. REP. NO.  31

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 279

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 279 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COUNTIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to allow certain counties to utilize tax revenues collected by the counties for the repair and maintenance of private roads that are open to and used by the public.

 

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from The Department of the Attorney General, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and one individual.

 

Your Committee finds that utilizing county tax revenues for the current usage of privately owned roads that are open to and used by the public would be greatly beneficial for residents and visitors of the State.  For example, the private roads are heavily used by first responders to respond to emergencies and by school buses for the transportation of students to and from school.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting language that details its public purpose;

 

     (2)  Authorizing all counties to use the county surcharge for the maintenance of privately-owned roadways that are open to the public rather than just counties with a population of five hundred thousand or less; and

 

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 279, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 279, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair