STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR15 , 2024
RE: S.C.R. No. 139
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred
S.C.R. No. 139 entitled:
“SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A TASK FORCE BE
CONVENED TO DEVELOP OPTIONS TO REDUCE COST AND RETURN
INCREASED VALUE TO RESIDENTS FROM FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE BY THE
STATE FOR PUBLIC MASS TRANSIT,”
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request a task force be
convened to develop options to reduce cost and return increased
value to residents from funds made available by the State for
public mass transit.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from Ulupono Initiative.
Your Committee finds that public mass transit projects
produce significant benefits, such as reducing the cost of transit
for commuters, reducing traffic, and increasing access to new
areas in the urban core for housing and mixed use communities.
Your Committee further finds that funding for public mass transit
projects, such as the City and County of Honolulu’s Skyline
project, has historically been through county surcharges on the
general excise tax, of which Hawaii residents bear approximately
two—thirds of the cost.
2024—2843 SCR139 HD1 HSCR HMSO
 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Page 2
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Amending its title; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the
purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
Your Committee notes that there is a lack of clarity with
respect to the purpose and scope of the task force established by
this measure. In particular, your Committee notes that it is
unclear if the task force is being requested to study alternative
funding mechanisms for public mass transit projects that would
reduce the financial burden these projects place on State
residents, or if the task force is being requested to generally
develop criteria that should be considered before state funds are
released to fund mass transit projects. Therefore, your Committee
respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it
deliberate on this measure, consider clarifying the purpose and
scope of the task force established by this measure.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 139,
as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your
Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No.
139, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on
2024—2843 SCR139 HD1 HSCR HMSO
 State of Hawaii
House of Representatives
The Thirty-second Legislature ~cft2~
Record of Votes of the Committee on Transportation
Bill/Res u in o~ Commft Refer~I: ~
C The committee is reconsidering its previous decision on the measur
The recommendation is to: ~ Pass, unamended (as is) Pass, with amendments (HD) C Hold
o Pass short form bill with HD to recommit for future public hearing (recommit)
TRN Members Ayes Ayes (WR) Nays Excused
1. TODD, Chris (C)
2. KILA, Darius K. (VC)
3. AIU, Micah P.K.
4. EVSLIN, Luke A.
5. KITAGAWA, Lisa
6. MIYAKE, Tyson K.
7. ONISHI, Richard H.K.
8. MATSUMOTO, Lauren
TOTAL (8)
The recommendation is: Adopted LI Not Adopted
If joint referral, did not support recommendation.
committee acronym(s)
Vice Chair’s or designee’s signature:
a
Distribution: Original (White) Committee Duplicate (Yellow) Chief Cle ~s Office Duplicate (Pink) — HMSO