Report Title:

Highway Fund; Vehicular Ferry System

Description:

Designates 2.6 cents of the state fuel tax to be designated for the development and maintenance of a vehicular ferry system, effective retroactively from July 1, 2004, and repealed in July 1, 2014.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1617

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO the VEHICULAR FERRY SYSTEM.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. A vehicular ferry system is an integral component of transportation in any state, but serves more of an emphasis here in our beautiful island state, where community cohesion and economic prosperity can only be enhanced with communication and technology. Let us not become the generation that has depleted our resources for future generations, but become a generation that has created new opportunities for those that will succeed us in years to come. From the businessperson that would like to expand his services to neighboring communities, to local residents wishing to visit their loved ones, let a vehicular ferry system be the bridge that connects our geographically separated island state of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. Section 248-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§248-9 State highway fund. Moneys in the state highway fund may be expended for the following purposes:

(1) To pay the costs of operation, maintenance, and repair of the state highway system or a vehicular ferry system, including without limitation, the cost of equipment and general administrative overhead;

(2) To pay the costs of acquisition (including real property and interests therein), planning, designing, construction and reconstruction of the state highway system, or a vehicular ferry system, and bikeways, including, without limitation, the cost of equipment and general administrative overhead; and

(3) To reimburse the general fund for interest on and principal of general obligation bonds issued to finance highway or vehicular ferry projects where the bonds are designated to be reimbursable out of the state highway fund.

(4) To serve as matching funds for any county or federal contribution made toward the vehicular ferry system.

Pursuant to section 243-4, Hawaii Revised Statute, 2.6 cents of the state levied fuel tax shall be used to support the development and maintenance of a vehicular ferry system as established in this section, effective retroactively from July 1, 2004, and to be repealed in July 1, 2014.

At any time the director of transportation may transfer from the state highway fund all or any portion of available moneys determined by the director of transportation to be in excess of one hundred thirty-five per cent of the requirements for the ensuing twelve months for the state highway fund as permitted by and in accordance with section 37-53. For purposes of the determination, the director of transportation shall take into consideration:

(1) The amount of federal funds and bond funds on deposit in, and budgeted to be expended from, the state highway fund during the period;

(2) Amounts on deposit in the state highway fund which are encumbered or otherwise obligated;

(3) Budgeted amounts payable from the state highway fund during the period;

(4) Revenues anticipated to be received by and expenditures to be made from the state highway fund during the period based on existing agreements and other information for the ensuing twelve months; and

(5) Any other factors as the director of transportation shall deem appropriate."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

 

INTRODUCED BY:

 

 

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