STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1287-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 3072

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Transportation and Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 3072, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AN AIRPORT AUTHORITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the efficient operation, management, and oversight of Hawaii's air transportation system by, among other things:

     (1)  Requiring the Governor to establish the Hawaii Airport Authority (Authority) pursuant to and on a date specified by Executive Order and after notification to the Legislature;

     (2)  Establishing a board of directors of the Authority and setting out procedures for the appointment of board members;

     (3)  Establishing the position of Administrator of the Authority, appointment requirements, and powers and duties;

     (4)  Establishing the powers and duties of the Authority;

     (5)  Transferring the aeronautics functions of the Department of Transportation to the Authority upon execution of the Governor's Executive Order and providing for the transfer of all employees, appropriations, records, equipment, supplies, contracts, books, papers, documents, maps, machines, and other personal property of the Department of Transportation relating to the functions transferred to the Authority; and

     (6)  Requiring the Department of Transportation to conduct a feasibility study on implementing the Authority.

The Department of Transportation, Chair of the Maui County Council, American Society of Civil Engineers, Napili Kai Beach Resort, Airport Concessionaires Committee, Enterprise Holdings, LLC, Airlines Committee of Hawaii, Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Hawaiian Airlines, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  A concerned individual testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General, Department of Budget and Finance, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs provided comments on this measure.

     Hawaii's air transportation planning, management, marketing, and development functions are currently spread out among a number of agencies.  This multijurisdictional situation has resulted in inefficiencies and can sometimes lead to conflicting plans of action among agencies seeking to implement differing goals.

     Your Committees find that the economic well-being of the State depends, in part, on the efficient use of all of its air transportation resources, and that a single entity having overall consolidated jurisdiction of Hawaii's air transportation resources will allow for a more efficient coordination of the planning and development of Hawaii's air transportation system.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Administratively attaching the Authority to the Department of Transportation;

     (2)  Requiring that the feasibility study include consideration of specific actions necessary to:

          (A)  Establish water reclamation programs for State facilities located at all airports statewide; and

          (B)  Limit the transmission of invasive species through airports, including the hiring of any necessary additional staff;

     (3)  Inserting an unspecified appropriation for the construction of a radar facility and a 100 foot by 150 foot concrete pad for installation of a radar unit at Kalaeloa Airport; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3072, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3072, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Water & Land,

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair

____________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair