Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SB492 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 492 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to transportation financing. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3	3	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 492
4	4	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
5	5	STATE OF HAWAII
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7	7	THE SENATE
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9	9	S.B. NO.
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11	11	492
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13	13	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
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37	37	relating to transportation financing.
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43	43	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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47	47	SECTION 1. Section 23-14, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title and subsection (a) to read as follows: "[[]§23-14[]] Rapid transportation authority; annual review. (a) Beginning on September 5, 2017, and ending on December 31, [2031,] 2053, the auditor, on an annual basis, shall conduct a review of any rapid transportation authority in the State charged with the responsibility of constructing, operating, or maintaining a locally preferred alternative for a mass transit project that receives moneys from a surcharge on state tax established pursuant to section 46-16.8, transient accommodations tax revenues pursuant to section 237D-2(e), or both. The annual review shall include a review of documents, including but not limited to invoices, contracts, progress reports, and time schedules, to determine that: (1) Expenditures by the authority comply with the criteria established pursuant to section 46-16.8(e); and (2) The authority follows accounting best practices for substantiating its expenditures." SECTION 2. Section 40-81.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title and subsection (a) to read as follows: "[[]§40-81.5[]] Rapid transportation authority; certification statement. (a) Beginning on September 5, 2017, and ending on December 31, [2031,] 2053, the comptroller, upon the request for payment by the rapid transportation authority, shall verify that the authority's invoices for the capital costs of a locally preferred alternative for a mass transit project comply with section 46-16.8(e)." SECTION 3. Section 46-16.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) through (c) as follows: "(a) Each county may establish a surcharge on state tax at the rates enumerated in sections 237-8.6 and 238-2.6. A county electing to establish this surcharge shall do so by ordinance; provided that: (1) No ordinance shall be adopted until the county has conducted a public hearing on the proposed ordinance; (2) The ordinance shall be adopted prior to December 31, 2005; and (3) No county surcharge on state tax that may be authorized under this subsection shall be levied prior to January 1, 2007, or after December 31, [2022,] 2030, unless extended pursuant to subsection (b). Notice of the public hearing required under paragraph (1) shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the county at least twice within a period of thirty days immediately preceding the date of the hearing. A county electing to exercise the authority granted under this subsection shall notify the director of taxation within ten days after the county has adopted a surcharge on state tax ordinance and, beginning no earlier than January 1, 2007, the director of taxation shall levy, assess, collect, and otherwise administer the county surcharge on state tax. (b) Each county that has established a surcharge on state tax prior to July 1, 2015, under authority of subsection (a) may extend the surcharge until December 31, [2030,] 2053, at the same rates. A county electing to extend this surcharge shall do so by ordinance; provided that: (1) No ordinance shall be adopted until the county has conducted a public hearing on the proposed ordinance; and (2) The ordinance shall be adopted prior to January 1, [2018.] 2026. A county electing to exercise the authority granted under this subsection shall notify the director of taxation within ten days after the county has adopted an ordinance extending the surcharge on state tax. The director of taxation shall levy, assess, collect, and otherwise administer the extended surcharge on state tax. (c) Each county that has not established a surcharge on state tax prior to July 1, 2015, may establish the surcharge at the rates enumerated in sections 237-8.6 and 238-2.6. A county electing to establish this surcharge shall do so by ordinance; provided that: (1) No ordinance shall be adopted until the county has conducted a public hearing on the proposed ordinance; (2) The ordinance shall be adopted prior to March 31, 2019; and (3) No county surcharge on state tax that may be authorized under this subsection shall be levied prior to January 1, 2019, or after December 31, [2030.] 2053. A county electing to exercise the authority granted under this subsection shall notify the director of taxation within ten days after the county has adopted a surcharge on state tax ordinance. Beginning on January 1, 2019, or January 1, 2020, as applicable pursuant to sections 237-8.6 and 238-2.6, the director of taxation shall levy, assess, collect, and otherwise administer the county surcharge on state tax." SECTION 4. Section 237-8.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: "(b) Each county surcharge on state tax that may be adopted or extended pursuant to section 46-16.8 shall be levied beginning in a taxable year after the adoption of the relevant county ordinance; provided that no surcharge on state tax may be levied: (1) Prior to: (A) January 1, 2007, if the county surcharge on state tax was established by an ordinance adopted prior to December 31, 2005; (B) January 1, 2019, if the county surcharge on state tax was established by the adoption of an ordinance after June 30, 2015, but prior to June 30, 2018; or (C) January 1, 2020, if the county surcharge on state tax was established by the adoption of an ordinance on or after June 30, 2018, but prior to March 31, 2019; and (2) After December 31, [2030.] 2053." SECTION 5. Section 237D-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (e) to read as follows: "(e) Notwithstanding the tax rates established in subsections (a)(5) and (c)(3), the tax rates levied, assessed, and collected pursuant to subsections (a) and (c) shall be 10.25 per cent for the period beginning on January 1, 2018, to December 31, [2030;] 2053; provided that: (1) The tax revenues levied, assessed, and collected pursuant to this subsection that are in excess of the revenues realized from the levy, assessment, and collection of tax at the 9.25 per cent rate shall be deposited quarterly into the mass transit special fund established under section 248-2.7; and (2) If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the amount of county surcharge on state tax revenues deducted and withheld by the State, pursuant to section 248-2.6, violates statutory or constitutional law and, as a result, awards moneys to a county with a population greater than five hundred thousand, then an amount equal to the monetary award shall be deducted and withheld from the tax revenues deposited under paragraph (1) into the mass transit special fund, and those funds shall be a general fund realization of the State. The remaining tax revenues levied, assessed, and collected at the 9.25 per cent tax rate pursuant to subsections (a) and (c) shall be deposited into the general fund in accordance with section 237D-6.5(b)." SECTION 6. Section 238-2.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: "(b) Each county surcharge on state tax that may be adopted or extended shall be levied beginning in a taxable year after the adoption of the relevant county ordinance; provided that no surcharge on state tax may be levied: (1) Prior to: (A) January 1, 2007, if the county surcharge on state tax was established by an ordinance adopted prior to December 31, 2005; (B) January 1, 2019, if the county surcharge on state tax was established by the adoption of an ordinance after June 30, 2015, but prior to June 30, 2018; or (C) January 1, 2020, if the county surcharge on state tax was established by the adoption of an ordinance on or after June 30, 2018, but prior to March 31, 2019; and (2) After December 31, [2030.] 2053." SECTION 7. Section 248-2.7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows: 1. By amending its title to read: "[[]§248-2.7[]] Mass transit special fund; established; distribution of funds." 2. By amending subsection (b) to read: "(b) For the period beginning on January 1, 2018, to December 31, [2030,] 2053, transient accommodations tax and surcharge on state tax revenues allocated to the mass transit special fund pursuant to sections 237D-2(e) and 248-2.6 shall be deposited into the special fund. All interest earned on the moneys in the special fund shall be credited to the general fund. The mass transit special fund shall be exempt from the central service expenses deduction under section 36-27 and departmental administrative expenses deduction under section 36-30." SECTION 8. Act 247, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, as amended by Act 240, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, as amended by Act 1, First Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, is amended by amending section 9 to read as follows: "SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that: (1) If none of the counties of the State adopt an ordinance to levy a county surcharge on state tax by December 31, 2005, this Act shall be repealed and section 437D-8.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on the day prior to the effective date of this Act; (2) If any county does not adopt an ordinance to levy a county surcharge on state tax by December 31, 2005, it shall be prohibited from adopting such an ordinance pursuant to this Act, unless otherwise authorized by the legislature through a separate legislative act; and (3) If an ordinance to levy a county surcharge on state tax is adopted by December 31, 2005: (A) The ordinance shall be repealed on December 31, [2022;] 2053; provided that the repeal of the ordinance shall not affect the validity or effect of an ordinance to extend a surcharge on state tax adopted pursuant to an act of the legislature; and (B) This Act shall be repealed on December 31, [2030;] 2053, and section 437D-8.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on the day prior to the effective date of this Act; provided that the amendments made to section 437D-8.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by Act 226, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, as amended by Act 11, Session Laws of Hawaii 2009, and Act 110, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, shall not be repealed." SECTION 9. This Act shall not be construed to prohibit the use of funds generated by a county for purposes not prohibited by state law. SECTION 10. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date. SECTION 11. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable. SECTION 12. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 13. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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49	49	SECTION 1. Section 23-14, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title and subsection (a) to read as follows:
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51	51	"[[]§23-14[]] Rapid transportation authority; annual review. (a) Beginning on September 5, 2017, and ending on December 31, [2031,] 2053, the auditor, on an annual basis, shall conduct a review of any rapid transportation authority in the State charged with the responsibility of constructing, operating, or maintaining a locally preferred alternative for a mass transit project that receives moneys from a surcharge on state tax established pursuant to section 46-16.8, transient accommodations tax revenues pursuant to section 237D-2(e), or both. The annual review shall include a review of documents, including but not limited to invoices, contracts, progress reports, and time schedules, to determine that:
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53	53	(1) Expenditures by the authority comply with the criteria established pursuant to section 46-16.8(e); and
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55	55	(2) The authority follows accounting best practices for substantiating its expenditures."
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57	57	SECTION 2. Section 40-81.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title and subsection (a) to read as follows:
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59	59	"[[]§40-81.5[]] Rapid transportation authority; certification statement. (a) Beginning on September 5, 2017, and ending on December 31, [2031,] 2053, the comptroller, upon the request for payment by the rapid transportation authority, shall verify that the authority's invoices for the capital costs of a locally preferred alternative for a mass transit project comply with section 46-16.8(e)."
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61	61	SECTION 3. Section 46-16.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) through (c) as follows:
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63	63	"(a) Each county may establish a surcharge on state tax at the rates enumerated in sections 237-8.6 and 238-2.6. A county electing to establish this surcharge shall do so by ordinance; provided that:
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65	65	(1) No ordinance shall be adopted until the county has conducted a public hearing on the proposed ordinance;
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67	67	(2) The ordinance shall be adopted prior to December 31, 2005; and
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69	69	(3) No county surcharge on state tax that may be authorized under this subsection shall be levied prior to January 1, 2007, or after December 31, [2022,] 2030, unless extended pursuant to subsection (b).
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71	71	Notice of the public hearing required under paragraph (1) shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the county at least twice within a period of thirty days immediately preceding the date of the hearing.
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73	73	A county electing to exercise the authority granted under this subsection shall notify the director of taxation within ten days after the county has adopted a surcharge on state tax ordinance and, beginning no earlier than January 1, 2007, the director of taxation shall levy, assess, collect, and otherwise administer the county surcharge on state tax.
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75	75	(b) Each county that has established a surcharge on state tax prior to July 1, 2015, under authority of subsection (a) may extend the surcharge until December 31, [2030,] 2053, at the same rates. A county electing to extend this surcharge shall do so by ordinance; provided that:
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77	77	(1) No ordinance shall be adopted until the county has conducted a public hearing on the proposed ordinance; and
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79	79	(2) The ordinance shall be adopted prior to January 1, [2018.] 2026.
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81	81	A county electing to exercise the authority granted under this subsection shall notify the director of taxation within ten days after the county has adopted an ordinance extending the surcharge on state tax. The director of taxation shall levy, assess, collect, and otherwise administer the extended surcharge on state tax.
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83	83	(c) Each county that has not established a surcharge on state tax prior to July 1, 2015, may establish the surcharge at the rates enumerated in sections 237-8.6 and 238-2.6. A county electing to establish this surcharge shall do so by ordinance; provided that:
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85	85	(1) No ordinance shall be adopted until the county has conducted a public hearing on the proposed ordinance;
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87	87	(2) The ordinance shall be adopted prior to March 31, 2019; and
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89	89	(3) No county surcharge on state tax that may be authorized under this subsection shall be levied prior to January 1, 2019, or after December 31, [2030.] 2053.
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91	91	A county electing to exercise the authority granted under this subsection shall notify the director of taxation within ten days after the county has adopted a surcharge on state tax ordinance. Beginning on January 1, 2019, or January 1, 2020, as applicable pursuant to sections 237-8.6 and 238-2.6, the director of taxation shall levy, assess, collect, and otherwise administer the county surcharge on state tax."
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93	93	SECTION 4. Section 237-8.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
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95	95	"(b) Each county surcharge on state tax that may be adopted or extended pursuant to section 46-16.8 shall be levied beginning in a taxable year after the adoption of the relevant county ordinance; provided that no surcharge on state tax may be levied:
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97	97	(1) Prior to:
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99	99	(A) January 1, 2007, if the county surcharge on state tax was established by an ordinance adopted prior to December 31, 2005;
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101	101	(B) January 1, 2019, if the county surcharge on state tax was established by the adoption of an ordinance after June 30, 2015, but prior to June 30, 2018; or
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103	103	(C) January 1, 2020, if the county surcharge on state tax was established by the adoption of an ordinance on or after June 30, 2018, but prior to March 31, 2019; and
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105	105	(2) After December 31, [2030.] 2053."
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107	107	SECTION 5. Section 237D-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
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109	109	"(e) Notwithstanding the tax rates established in subsections (a)(5) and (c)(3), the tax rates levied, assessed, and collected pursuant to subsections (a) and (c) shall be 10.25 per cent for the period beginning on January 1, 2018, to December 31, [2030;] 2053; provided that:
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111	111	(1) The tax revenues levied, assessed, and collected pursuant to this subsection that are in excess of the revenues realized from the levy, assessment, and collection of tax at the 9.25 per cent rate shall be deposited quarterly into the mass transit special fund established under section 248-2.7; and
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113	113	(2) If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the amount of county surcharge on state tax revenues deducted and withheld by the State, pursuant to section 248-2.6, violates statutory or constitutional law and, as a result, awards moneys to a county with a population greater than five hundred thousand, then an amount equal to the monetary award shall be deducted and withheld from the tax revenues deposited under paragraph (1) into the mass transit special fund, and those funds shall be a general fund realization of the State.
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115	115	The remaining tax revenues levied, assessed, and collected at the 9.25 per cent tax rate pursuant to subsections (a) and (c) shall be deposited into the general fund in accordance with section 237D-6.5(b)."
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117	117	SECTION 6. Section 238-2.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
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119	119	"(b) Each county surcharge on state tax that may be adopted or extended shall be levied beginning in a taxable year after the adoption of the relevant county ordinance; provided that no surcharge on state tax may be levied:
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121	121	(1) Prior to:
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123	123	(A) January 1, 2007, if the county surcharge on state tax was established by an ordinance adopted prior to December 31, 2005;
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125	125	(B) January 1, 2019, if the county surcharge on state tax was established by the adoption of an ordinance after June 30, 2015, but prior to June 30, 2018; or
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127	127	(C) January 1, 2020, if the county surcharge on state tax was established by the adoption of an ordinance on or after June 30, 2018, but prior to March 31, 2019; and
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129	129	(2) After December 31, [2030.] 2053."
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131	131	SECTION 7. Section 248-2.7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
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133	133	1. By amending its title to read:
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135	135	"[[]§248-2.7[]] Mass transit special fund; established; distribution of funds."
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137	137	2. By amending subsection (b) to read:
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139	139	"(b) For the period beginning on January 1, 2018, to December 31, [2030,] 2053, transient accommodations tax and surcharge on state tax revenues allocated to the mass transit special fund pursuant to sections 237D-2(e) and 248-2.6 shall be deposited into the special fund. All interest earned on the moneys in the special fund shall be credited to the general fund. The mass transit special fund shall be exempt from the central service expenses deduction under section 36-27 and departmental administrative expenses deduction under section 36-30."
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141	141	SECTION 8. Act 247, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, as amended by Act 240, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, as amended by Act 1, First Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, is amended by amending section 9 to read as follows:
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143	143	"SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that:
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145	145	(1) If none of the counties of the State adopt an ordinance to levy a county surcharge on state tax by December 31, 2005, this Act shall be repealed and section 437D-8.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on the day prior to the effective date of this Act;
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147	147	(2) If any county does not adopt an ordinance to levy a county surcharge on state tax by December 31, 2005, it shall be prohibited from adopting such an ordinance pursuant to this Act, unless otherwise authorized by the legislature through a separate legislative act; and
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149	149	(3) If an ordinance to levy a county surcharge on state tax is adopted by December 31, 2005:
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151	151	(A) The ordinance shall be repealed on December 31, [2022;] 2053; provided that the repeal of the ordinance shall not affect the validity or effect of an ordinance to extend a surcharge on state tax adopted pursuant to an act of the legislature; and
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153	153	(B) This Act shall be repealed on December 31, [2030;] 2053, and section 437D-8.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on the day prior to the effective date of this Act; provided that the amendments made to section 437D-8.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by Act 226, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, as amended by Act 11, Session Laws of Hawaii 2009, and Act 110, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, shall not be repealed."
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155	155	SECTION 9. This Act shall not be construed to prohibit the use of funds generated by a county for purposes not prohibited by state law.
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157	157	SECTION 10. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
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159	159	SECTION 11. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.
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161	161	SECTION 12. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
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163	163	SECTION 13. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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167	167	INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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169	169	INTRODUCED BY:
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171	171	_____________________________
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177	177	Report Title: County Surcharge on State Tax; Extension; General Excise Tax; Transient Accommodations Tax Description: Authorizes a county that has adopted a surcharge to state tax to extend the surcharge to 12/31/2053. Extends the end date of the one percent Transient Accommodation Tax increase to 12/31/2053. Requires the State Auditor to conduct an audit and annual review of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation until 12/31/2053. Requires the Comptroller to certify the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's invoices for capital costs until 12/31/2053. The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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183	183	Report Title:
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185	185	County Surcharge on State Tax; Extension; General Excise Tax; Transient Accommodations Tax
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189	189	Description:
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191	191	Authorizes a county that has adopted a surcharge to state tax to extend the surcharge to 12/31/2053. Extends the end date of the one percent Transient Accommodation Tax increase to 12/31/2053. Requires the State Auditor to conduct an audit and annual review of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation until 12/31/2053. Requires the Comptroller to certify the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's invoices for capital costs until 12/31/2053.
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199	199	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.