STAND. COM. REP. NO.  11

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 24

      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. 24 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER COMMON CARRIERS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to remove the discretion for water common carriers to secure prior approval of the Public Utilities Commission to enter into long term leases of more than three years and leverage leases.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Harbor Users Group; Matson Navigation Company, Inc.; and Young Brothers, LLC.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Public Utilities Commission.

 

Your Committee finds that no other type of entity regulated by the Public Utilities Commission is currently required to secure approval from the Public Utilities Commission before entering into a lease of more than three years.  The requirement for prior approval may impede the ability of water carriers to timely secure equipment or property necessary to serve its customers.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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. 24, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 24, 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