STAND. COM. REP. NO.  433

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 982

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 982 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UTILITY FRANCHISES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist the Department of Transportation with the maintenance and operation of Hawaii's state highway right-of-ways by requiring:

     (1)  Franchise electric light or power utilities to pay equitable compensation to both the county in which the utility operates and the Highways Division of the Department of Transportation for the use and occupancy of county and state highways, respectively; and

     (2)  The money collected by the Highways Division of the Department of Transportation under paragraph (1) above to be deposited into the State Highway Fund and used for the operation and maintenance of the Department of Transportation's highway facilities.

The Department of Transportation and a concerned individual supported this measure.  The City and County of Honolulu, Maui County, Maui County Department of Finance, Kaua‘i County Department of Finance, and Hawai‘i County opposed this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Leaving blank the percentage of gross receipts that will be paid to the counties and to the Department of Transportation Highways Division, respectively; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 982, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 982, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair