STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1516

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 784

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 784, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AIRLINES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a two-year Airline Subsidy Pilot Program at Molokai airport to assist airlines in offsetting the costs of operation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that for the past two years, Molokai residents have had to rely upon one passenger airline for air travel out of Molokai airport. Although the airline has been accommodating Molokai passengers to some extent, the cost of plane tickets remains high. This measure is intended to offset the cost of passenger tickets while encouraging more airlines to operate at Molokai airport.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Establishing standards for the Airline Subsidy Pilot Program; and

(2) Requiring the Pilot Program to cease to exist on July 1, 2025.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 784, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 784, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair