Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 57 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Transportation (DOT) to review state airport and harbor fees and adjust the fees as necessary.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the DOT.

According to testimony of the DOT, the State Airports Division and the State Harbors Division generate revenues from user fees to fund operations and capital improvements. User fees have remained static for many years. Concerns over raising those fees in the past have generated critical public comment about the cost of doing business. However, the DOT now recognizes that the reality of obtaining funding for upkeep and improvements at airports and harbors may necessitate a change in the fee schedules.

Your Committee has amended this measure on the recommendation of the DOT by substituting "wharfage" for "profiles" in references to the source of the fees.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 57, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 57, S.D. 1.