STAND. COM. REP. NO.  686

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 70

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns, to which was referred H.B. No. 70, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to reduce traffic congestion by authorizing the Department of Transportation (DOT) to negotiate public-private partnership agreements allowing the private partner to finance the development and maintenance of transportation improvements on public property, and assess tolls or other user fees and compensation.

 

     DOT, Hawaii Automobile Dealers' Association, Hawaii Highway Users Alliance, and a concerned individual supported this bill.  A concerned individual supported this bill with amendments.  The State Procurement Office opposed this measure.  The Office of Information Practices commented on this bill.

 

     Your Committee finds that state and county highway revenues are insufficient to accommodate public demand for highway improvements.  Public-private partnerships are a means by which the State may finance these improvements and provide the public with relief from traffic congestion.


 

     To ensure that there continues to be fairness, open competition, and transparency in DOT's activities under this bill, your Committee has amended this measure to remove provisions exempting DOT from the procurement code.  Technical, nonsubstantive amendments have also been made for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 70, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 70, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair