STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1522

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 824

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 824, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOORING LINES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require that the securing of mooring lines from vessels requiring tug assistance be performed be a stevedoring company that is registered to do business in the State and authorized to secure mooring lines.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 142; International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 100; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Hawai‘i State AFL-CIO; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Island Plastic Bags, Inc.; Island Energy Services, LLC; and Par Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission, Young Brothers, Hawaiian Cement, General Contractors Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Gas, and American Marine Corporation.

Your Committee finds that there is no existing requirement for out-of-state companies to utilize trained longshore linespersons to secure vessels to the commercial docks, wharves, piers, quays, bulkheads, and landings in the State. Your Committee further finds that this measure will ensure the safe securing of mooring lines from vessels requiring tug assistance to the various marine vessel landings in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee notes the comments of the Public Utilities Commission that this measure could force regulated water carriers, as defined under section 271G-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to also retain additional services via a separate union labor contract above and beyond its current union labor contract. This could result in increased costs for that water carrier which could then ultimately be passed on to ratepayers or customers. Therefore, your Committee requests that your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, should it choose to deliberate on this measure, consider amending this measure to exempt regulated water carriers.

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 S.B. No. 824, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 824, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair