STAND. COM. REP. NO. 135

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1091

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1091 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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 testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that private roads that are currently open to and used by the public are also used by first responders to respond to emergencies and by school buses for the transportation of students to and from school. Your Committee believes that residents and visitors of the State would benefit if county tax revenues were used to improve, repair, and maintain privately owned roads that are currently open to and used by the public. This measure will improve safety for residents and visitors of the State by allowing 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 has amended this measure by clarifying that fuel taxes may be used for private roadways that are open to and used by the public.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1091, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1091, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair