SB774

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that senior citizens are most in need of ordinary daily transportation. Currently, public transportation is limited to the public bus or the handi‑van service. Yet, many seniors may prefer not to ride the bus or may not otherwise qualify for the handi-van. It is this gap group of the population who would benefit from a vanpool type arrangement with volunteer drivers. Such a program would be patterned after the vanpool arrangement for commute-to-work. For example, a senior citizen could utilize a vanpool for transportation to locations within the community, including food establishments, adult day care, shopping centers, markets, and recreational centers.

The purpose of this Act is to create a senior vanpool Hawaii program as a two-year pilot project.

SECTION 2. Chapter 279G, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§279G‑ Senior vanpool Hawaii. (a) There is created a senior vanpool Hawaii program to provide a ridesharing arrangement for persons age sixty-five and older, without regard to the senior's physical or mental disability, possession of a driver's license, or having other persons to assist the senior in transportation. Transportation shall be limited to locations within the community of the senior, including but not limited to, food establishments, adult day care, shopping centers, markets, and recreational centers.

(b) Drivers for the senior vanpool Hawaii program shall be volunteers and shall possess a valid driver's license issued under chapter 286.

(c) The senior vanpool Hawaii program may collect fees from seniors in the program; provided that the fees shall not exceed the fees charged to other riders using a vanpool arrangement.

(d) An entity, as defined in section 279G-2, may contract for the provision of passenger vans or sport utility vehicles, or other appropriate vehicles, for senior commuters in the senior vanpool Hawaii program."

SECTION 3. Section 279G-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§279G-3[]] Findings. The legislature finds:

(1) Public and private expenditures will be reduced by increases in ridesharing, particularly in maintenance and construction costs for highways[.];

(2) Increased energy consumption, air pollution, traffic congestion, and motor vehicle parking constitute a serious problem in the State, particularly in urban areas, and ridesharing is a cost-effective alternative approach for solving these problems[.];

(3) The increased use of ridesharing will contribute to conservation of fuel, improvement of air quality, and more effective use of existing streets, highways, and parking facilities[.];

(4) Ridesharing constitutes one of the most cost-effective and energy-efficient means of transportation[.];

(5) Many employees work in and commute to the downtown area of Honolulu where the problems associated with traffic congestion, parking, energy consumption, and air pollution are greatest[.];

(6) Senior citizens are in need of ordinary daily transportation that is ideally suited for a ridesharing arrangement; and

[~~(6)~~] (7) It is in the public interest and a public purpose for private industry, cities, counties, and the State to encourage people to use alternatives to single occupant motor vehicles, such as ridesharing."

SECTION 4. The department of transportation shall report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2008 regular session and 2009 regular session on the progress of implementation and current status of the senior vanpool Hawaii program, including but not limited to, ridership, costs, and availability of vehicles, vendors, and volunteers.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for start-up and operational costs of the senior vanpool Hawaii program.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of transportation for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2007; and provided further that this Act shall be repealed on June 30, 2009, and section 279G-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on the day before the effective date of this Act.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	774
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII