CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 156-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2016

RE:    S.B. No. 2618

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2618, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing an interisland and intra-island ferry system and to make an appropriation for expenses accordingly.

     Your Committee on Conference finds as the only island state in the nation, Hawaii does not enjoy the benefit of being linked to other states via the federal interstate highway system or a network of interconnected state and local highways.  This presents unique challenges for residents and visitors alike who may wish to travel between the islands of the State since air transportation, which can be costly, is currently the only available means of travel between the islands.  While other states, such as the State of Washington, use ferry systems as a transportation alternative, Hawaii has no such system in place.  Your Committee finds that an interisland ferry system can serve as an efficient alternative for transporting passengers, cargo, farm produce, and motor vehicles between islands and that the feasibility of establishing such a system should be explored.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Transportation to report to the Legislature before the convening of the 2018 Regular Session rather than the 2017 Regular Session;

     (2)  Inserting an appropriation of $50,000 for the Department of Transportation's study; and

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2016.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2618, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2618, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Co-Chair	____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair
____________________________ MATTHEW LOPRESTI, Co-Chair	____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Co-Chair
	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Co-Chair