RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

SB1122

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1122

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to transportation
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION 1.
�
The legislature
finds that Act 242, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, amended the name, composition,
and duties of the state highway safety and modernization council to make the
council an independently led group of expert stakeholders to review the
department of transportation's efforts to ensure transparency and provide
guidance to the department and legislature to help achieve state transportation
goals and outcomes.

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However, removing the director of
transportation as chair and from the council has inadvertently severed the
council's administrative attachment to the department of transportation,
leading to a loss of essential administrative support. Additionally, the
council has historically faced challenges in achieving quorum due to the
absence of explicit authorization for certain members to appoint designees,
thereby limiting flexibility in attendance and impeding the council's ability
to conduct official business.

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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

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(1)
�
Administratively
attach the state highway safety and modernization council to the department of
transportation;

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(2)
�
Clarify
the law to allow members to appoint their designees to serve on the council;
and

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(3)
�
Update
membership to facilitate meeting of quorum and legislative intent.

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SECTION
2
.
�
Section 286-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

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"(a)
�

There is established the Hawaii highway safety and modernization council
[
.
]
that
shall be administratively attached to the department of transportation
.
�
The council shall be chaired on an annually
rotating basis by a member appointed by the president of the senate and a
member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
�
In addition to the member appointed by the
president of the senate and member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives, the following [
or their designated representatives
]
shall be members of the council:
�
[
the
]

����
(1)
�
The

chief justice[
, the
]
or their designee;

����
(2)
�
The

director of transportation[
, the
]
or their designee;

����
(3)
�
The

attorney general[
, the
]
or their designee;

����
(4)
�
The

director of health[
, the superintendent of education, the executive director
of the state public charter school commission, the president of the University
of Hawaii, the
]
or their designee;

����
(5)
�
The

chairperson of the [
University
]
university
of Hawaii at Manoa
department of urban and regional planning[
, the co-chairpersons of
]
or
their designee;

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(6)
�
The
co-chairpersons of
the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation
commission[
, the
]
or the co-chairpersons' designees;

����
(7)
�
The

director of the office of planning and sustainable development[
, the chief
energy officer of the Hawaii state energy office, an additional two
]
or
their designee;

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(8)
�
Two
additional
members appointed by the president of the senate and speaker of
the house of representatives, respectively[
, the chairperson of each of the
county highway safety councils established under section 286-6, and not
]
;

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(9)
�
One
member from each county agency with jurisdiction over transportation or a
designee appointed by each county mayor; and

���
(10)
�
Not

more than [
twelve
]
ten
other persons who shall be appointed by
the governor for a three-year term as follows:

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[
(1)
]

(A)
�
One member from an organization
representing senior citizens;

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[
(2)
�
One member from an organization representing
bicyclists;

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(3)
�
One member from an organization having
a focus on micro-mobility;

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(4)
�
One member from an organization having
a focus on transportation, planning, and improvement;

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(5)
]

(B)
�
One
member from an organization representing active transportation riders;

���������
(C)
�
One member from an organization [
having a focus on reducing the
cost of transportation for
]
representing
low-income
or other
vulnerable communities
;

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[
(6)
]

(D)

One member from an organization
representing labor and construction;

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[
(7)
]

(E)

One member from an organization
representing trucking and cargo carriers;

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[
(8)
]

(F)

One
member from an organization having a focus on the electrification of
transportation;

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[
(9)
]

(G)

One member from an organization having a
focus on expanding trees and foliage and reducing urban heat;

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[
(10)
]

(H)
One member from an organization representing the
automobile [
manufacturing
] industry; and

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[
(11)
]

(I)
Up to two members on the basis
of their interest in transportation safety and related state goals."

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SECTION 3.
�

Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOT; State Highway Safety and Modernization Council; Membership

Description:

Administratively attaches the State Highway Safety and
Modernization Council to the Department of Transportation.
�
Allows council members to appoint their
designees.
�
Updates membership of the
Council.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.