HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2409
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

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

PART I

LIQUID FUEL TAX

     SECTION 1.  Section 243-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Every distributor shall, in addition to any other taxes provided by law, pay a license tax to the department of taxation for each gallon of liquid fuel refined, manufactured, produced, or compounded by the distributor and sold or used by the distributor in the State or imported by the distributor, or acquired by the distributor from persons who are not licensed distributors, and sold or used by the distributor in the State.  Any person who sells or uses any liquid fuel knowing that the distributor from whom it was originally purchased has not paid and is not paying the tax thereon shall pay such tax as would have applied to such sale or use by the distributor.  The rates of tax hereby imposed are as follows:

     (1)  For each gallon of diesel oil, [1 cent;] 2 cents;

     (2)  For each gallon of gasoline or other aviation fuel sold for use in or used for airplanes, [1 cent;] 2 cents;

     (3)  For each gallon of liquid fuel other than fuel mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (2), and other than an alternative fuel, sold or used in the city and county of Honolulu, or sold in any county for ultimate use in the city and county of Honolulu, [16] 19 cents state tax, and in addition thereto such amount, to be known as the "city and county of Honolulu fuel tax", as shall be levied pursuant to section 243-5;

     (4)  For each gallon of liquid fuel other than fuel mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (2), and other than an alternative fuel, sold or used in the county of Hawaii, or sold in any county for ultimate use in the county of Hawaii, [16] 19 cents state tax, and in addition thereto such amount, to be known as the "county of Hawaii fuel tax", as shall be levied pursuant to section 243-5;

     (5)  For each gallon of liquid fuel other than fuel mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (2), and other than an alternative fuel, sold or used in the county of Maui, or sold in any county for ultimate use in the county of Maui, [16] 19 cents state tax, and in addition thereto such amount, to be known as the "county of Maui fuel tax", as shall be levied pursuant to section 243-5; and

     (6)  For each gallon of liquid fuel, other than fuel mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (2), and other than an alternative fuel, sold or used in the county of Kauai, or sold in any county for ultimate use in the county of Kauai, [16] 19 cents state tax, and in addition thereto such amount, to be known as the "county of Kauai fuel tax", as shall be levied pursuant to section 243-5.

     If it is shown to the satisfaction of the department, based upon proper records and from [such] other evidence as the department may require, that liquid fuel other than fuel mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (2), is used for agricultural equipment that does not operate upon the public highways of the State, the user thereof may obtain a refund of all taxes thereon imposed by this section in excess of 1 cent per gallon.  The department shall adopt rules to administer such refunds."

PART II

MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION

     SECTION 2.  Section 249-31, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§249-31  State registration fee.  (a)  All vehicles and motor vehicles in the State as defined in section 249-1, including antique motor vehicles, except as otherwise provided in sections 249-4, 249-6, and 249-31.5, shall be subject to a [$45] $60 annual vehicle registration fee.  The fee shall be paid each year together with all other taxes and fees levied by this chapter on a staggered basis as established by each county as authorized by section 286-51, and the state registration for that county shall likewise be staggered so that the state registration fee is due and payable at the same time and shall be collected together with the county fee.  The state registration fee shall be deemed delinquent if not paid with the county registration fee.  The respective counties shall collect this fee together with the vehicle registration tax collected for the county and shall transfer the moneys collected under this section to the State.

     (b)  From each annual motor vehicle registration fee, the director shall deposit [$40] $55 into the state highway fund and $5 into the emergency medical services special fund."

PART III

MOTOR VEHICLE WEIGHT TAX

     SECTION 3.  Section 249-33, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  All vehicles and motor vehicles in the State as defined in section 249-1, including antique motor vehicles, except as otherwise provided in sections 249-4, 249-5.5, 249-6, and 249-6.5, in addition to all other fees and taxes levied by this chapter, shall be subject to an annual state vehicle weight tax. The tax shall be levied by the county director of finance at the rate of [1.75] 2.75 cents a pound according to the net weight of each vehicle as the "net weight" is defined in section 249-1 up to and including four thousand pounds net weight; vehicles over four thousand pounds and up to and including seven thousand pounds net weight shall be taxed at the rate of [2.00] 3.00 cents a pound; vehicles over seven thousand pounds and up to and including ten thousand pounds net weight shall be taxed at the rate of [2.25] 3.25 cents a pound; vehicles over ten thousand pounds net weight shall be taxed at a flat rate of [$300.] $400."

PART IV

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the state highway fund the sum of $   or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the operations and maintenance of the state highways program.

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

     SECTION 5.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.

PART V

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

     SECTION 7.  This Act, upon its approval, shall take effect on July 1, 2016.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________
	BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Transportation; Liquid Fuel Tax; Motor Vehicle; Registration; Weight Tax; State Highway Fund; Operations; Maintenance

Description:

Increases the State Fuel Tax to generate additional revenues for the State Highway Fund by amending section 243-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  Allows for increase in the state motor vehicle registration fee and deposits the money into the State Highway Fund by amending section 249-31, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  Increases the state motor vehicle weight tax and deposits the money into the State Highway Fund by amending section 249-33, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.