STAND. COM. REP. NO. 952

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 1030

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1030 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII MARINE HIGHWAY SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to develop alternative means of transportation between islands in the state by:

(1) Establishing the Hawaii Marine Highway System (System);

(2) Requiring the Department of Transportation (DOT) to administer the System, including the construction, purchase, or lease of ferry terminal facilities throughout the state; and

(3) Creating the Hawaii Marine Highway System Fund (Fund) within the state treasury, which funds are to be used only for the operation and maintenance of the System.

Hawaii Superferry and a member of the Maui County Council and testified in support of this bill. DOT and ILWU Local 142 opposed this measure.

 

Your Committee recognizes the fact that the designation of Hawaii's waterways will not automatically result in the State's qualifying to receive additional federal funds and that an appropriation of additional federal funds requires an act of Congress. Your Committee further understands the concerns raised by DOT that dedicating all revenues from ferry operations using state facilities to the Fund may compromise the management and optimization of DOT's Harbors Division special fund but finds that the establishment of a marine highway system warrants further consideration.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2010, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1030, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1030, H.D. 1.

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

 

____________________________

DWIGHT TAKAMINE, Chair