STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1226

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 784

S.D. 1

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. 784, S.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 one-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, Maui Chamber of Commerce, and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that the needs of the Molokai community are not being met by the one operating air carrier that services that island. Your Committee further finds that a subsidy pilot program may help to encourage increased air carrier operations to Molokai, while making air travel to and from Molokai more accessible for the community.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Extending the duration of the pilot program to two years;

(2) Extending the due date for the report to prior to the Regular Session of 2025 to reflect the extension of the pilot program;

(3) Adding language from the Department of Attorney General specifying that this measure serves a public purpose;

(4) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) 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 S.B. No. 784, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 784, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair