STAND. COM. REP. NO. 24-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1632

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1632 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Set weight limitations for tour operators and rental vehicles;

(2) Establish user fees for certain vehicles to access Hana Highway and Haleakala Highway; and

(3) Amend the Highway Development Special Fund to allow the deposit of funds received from the user fees into the special fund and authorize the funds to be used for the development and improvement of Hana Highway and Haleakala Highway.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from four members of the Maui County Council and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Transportation Association. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Transportation.

Your Committee finds that Hana Highway and Haleakala Highway are heavily used by Maui residents and visitors, providing access to highly trafficked areas of Maui. To ensure the safety of residents and visitors, it is critical to establish certain vehicle weight restrictions and user fees for the development and improvement of the highways. Your Committee further finds that the concerns of the Department of Transportation about the proposed user fees in this measure warrant further guidance from the Federal Highway Administration.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the definition of "electric scooter";

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 1632, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1632, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair