Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SCR170 Compare Versions

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

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1	1	THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 170 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 STATE OF HAWAII SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the department of transportation to establish a working group to evaluate options that provide additional air service to remote and underserved communities across the state.
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3	3	THE SENATE S.C.R. NO. 170
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.C.R. NO.
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11	11	170
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13	13	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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29	29	SENATE CONCURRENT
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31	31	RESOLUTION
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37	37	urging the department of transportation to establish a working group to evaluate options that provide additional air service to remote and underserved communities across the state.
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43	43	WHEREAS, as an island state, Hawaii is reliant upon air travel to ensure residents and tourists have timely transportation options to navigate between islands; and WHEREAS, since January 2021, only one passenger airline has provided service to the general public out of Molokai Airport; and WHEREAS, while the airline does their best to accommodate the needs of passengers, including additional routes, flight times, and ordering larger planes, the cost of plane tickets remains a burden to many Molokai residents who need to travel for essential reasons, including work, medical appointments, and family; and WHEREAS, in addition to costly ticket prices and limited flights, there are significant flight delays and cancellations that have caused undue burden on Molokai residents; and WHEREAS, presently, airlines and air travel are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration; and WHEREAS, the lack of consistent, available flights between rural communities and major hubs such as Honolulu pose a health and safety issue; and WHEREAS, the collaboration of federal, state, and county agencies is needed to ensure residents who live in rural or underserved communities have greater access to air travel options for essential reasons; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Transportation is urged to establish a working group to evaluate options that provide additional air service to remote and underserved communities across the State; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to evaluate options, including: (1) An airline subsidy to offset the cost of passenger tickets; and (2) Encouragement of other airlines to provide service at rural airports, including Molokai Airport; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members: (1) The Manager of the Federal Aviation Administration Honolulu Airports District Office; (2) The Deputy Director for Transportation Airports, or their designee; (3) The Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, or their designee; (4) A representative from each county transportation department; and (5) Any additional members whose expertise may be relevant and as recommended by the working group; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to be dissolved on June 30, 2024; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Manager of the Federal Aviation Administration Honolulu Airports District Office, Director of Transportation, Deputy Director for Airports, Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, and director of each county transportation department. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ Report Title: Department of Transportation; Air Service; Rural and Underserved Communities; Working Group
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45	45	WHEREAS, as an island state, Hawaii is reliant upon air travel to ensure residents and tourists have timely transportation options to navigate between islands; and
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49	49	WHEREAS, since January 2021, only one passenger airline has provided service to the general public out of Molokai Airport; and
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53	53	WHEREAS, while the airline does their best to accommodate the needs of passengers, including additional routes, flight times, and ordering larger planes, the cost of plane tickets remains a burden to many Molokai residents who need to travel for essential reasons, including work, medical appointments, and family; and
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57	57	WHEREAS, in addition to costly ticket prices and limited flights, there are significant flight delays and cancellations that have caused undue burden on Molokai residents; and
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61	61	WHEREAS, presently, airlines and air travel are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration; and
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65	65	WHEREAS, the lack of consistent, available flights between rural communities and major hubs such as Honolulu pose a health and safety issue; and
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69	69	WHEREAS, the collaboration of federal, state, and county agencies is needed to ensure residents who live in rural or underserved communities have greater access to air travel options for essential reasons; now, therefore,
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73	73	BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Transportation is urged to establish a working group to evaluate options that provide additional air service to remote and underserved communities across the State; and
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77	77	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to evaluate options, including:
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81	81	(1) An airline subsidy to offset the cost of passenger tickets; and
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85	85	(2) Encouragement of other airlines to provide service at rural airports, including Molokai Airport; and
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89	89	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members:
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93	93	(1) The Manager of the Federal Aviation Administration Honolulu Airports District Office;
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97	97	(2) The Deputy Director for Transportation Airports, or their designee;
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101	101	(3) The Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, or their designee;
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105	105	(4) A representative from each county transportation department; and
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109	109	(5) Any additional members whose expertise may be relevant and as recommended by the working group; and
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113	113	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and
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117	117	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to be dissolved on June 30, 2024; and
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121	121	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Manager of the Federal Aviation Administration Honolulu Airports District Office, Director of Transportation, Deputy Director for Airports, Chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, and director of each county transportation department.
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129	129	OFFERED BY: _____________________________
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133	133	OFFERED BY:
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135	135	_____________________________
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141	141	Report Title:
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143	143	Department of Transportation; Air Service; Rural and Underserved Communities; Working Group