STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 223
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 461
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 461 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUTING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office; Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Commission; Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Human Resources Development; and one individual.
Your Committee finds that the State's policy of providing subsidized parking for state employees creates an inequitable transportation benefit and discourages the use of alternative commuting methods. Your Committee further finds that employees who walk, bike, use public transit, or car-share do not receive comparable subsidies, despite using a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation. This measure strives to provide equitable transportation benefits for all state employees, regardless of their mode of travel, through the establishment of a Commuting Choice Benefit Program.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Requiring the Commuting Choice Benefit Program to conduct education and outreach regarding state employee transportation benefits;
(2) Requiring each state department and agency to establish a Volunteer Employee Transportation Coordinator;
(3) Requiring the Department of Human Resources Development to offer fully subsidized public transit and bikeshare passes;
(4) Requiring the Department of Human Resources Development to develop a Parking Opt-Out Program;
(5) Adding an appropriation of an unspecified amount for the development of the Commuting Choice Benefit Program and establishment of positions;
(6) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(7) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent position within the Department of Human Resources Development and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent position within the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 461, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 461, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Labor.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,
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____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair |
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