STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3793

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 96

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Energy and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 96 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO REDUCE LITTERING, PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN THE ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY PROGRAM TO KEEP ROADS LITTER-FREE, AND WORK WITH THE COUNTIES TO EXPAND THE ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY PROGRAM TO INCLUDE COUNTY ROADS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to keep the State's roadways clean by urging the Department of Transportation to engage in public education and outreach to reduce litter, promote participation in the Adopt-a-Highway program, and expand the Adopt-a-Highway program to county roads.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.

Your Committees find that litter on the State's roadways not only destroy the natural beauty of the State, but also damages the environment. However, cleaning up the litter is expensive - the Department of Transportation spends over $2 million a year on picking up litter. Your Committees further find that the Adopt-A-Highway program allows community groups and businesses to "adopt" a two mile portion of a state road or highway for at least two years, which the community group or business agrees to clean at least four times a year. This measure encourages public education and greater participation in the Adopt-A-Highway program to help keep the State's roads litter-free.

Your Committees note that some counties in other states run a separate Adopt-a-Road program that is similar to the Adopt-a-Highway program. These Adopt-a-Road programs can have different roadway adoption requirements, and usually do not have oversight from the state's Department of Transportation. This type of county-based program may warrant consideration by the counties to help keep county roadways clean.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Energy and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 96, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Energy and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair