STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1869-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.C.R. No. 139

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 139 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A TASK FORCE BE CONVENED TO DEVELOP OPTIONS TO REDUCE COST AND RETURN INCREASED VALUE TO RESIDENTS FROM FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE BY THE STATE FOR PUBLIC MASS TRANSIT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request a task force be convened to develop options to reduce cost and return increased value to residents from funds made available by the State for public mass transit.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Ulupono Initiative.

Your Committee finds that public mass transit projects produce significant benefits, such as reducing the cost of transit for commuters, reducing traffic, and increasing access to new areas in the urban core for housing and mixed use communities. Your Committee further finds that funding for public mass transit projects, such as the City and County of Honolulu's Skyline project, has historically been through county surcharges on the general excise tax, of which Hawaii residents bear approximately two-thirds of the cost.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending its title; and

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

Your Committee notes that there is a lack of clarity with respect to the purpose and scope of the task force established by this measure. In particular, your Committee notes that it is unclear if the task force is being requested to study alternative funding mechanisms for public mass transit projects that would reduce the financial burden these projects place on State residents, or if the task force is being requested to generally develop criteria that should be considered before state funds are released to fund mass transit projects. Therefore, your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, consider clarifying the purpose and scope of the task force established by this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 139, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 139, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair