STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2702

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2743

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2743 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 authorize certain counties to use county surcharge on state tax revenues and fuel tax revenues for the repair and maintenance of private roadways that are open to and used by the public.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Maui County Council.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that certain roadways utilized by the public are owned by private owners. Certain roadways fall into a state of disrepair that create safety concerns for roadway users. However, as the roadways are privately owned, county agencies may not repair a road to address safety and infrastructure concerns. The repair and maintenance of these privately owned roads would not only decrease wear and tear on the privately-owned vehicles that access these roads but would also ensure the safe and timely delivery of essential public services, such as fire and emergency response vehicles. This measure empowers the counties to utilize certain revenues for the repair and maintenance of private roadways that are open to and used by the public to ensure safety and access for all roadway users, including first responders, public transportation, and emergency services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting legislative findings and specifying that this measure constitutes a public purpose;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2743, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2743, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

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ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair