Hawaii-2024-SB2179-Introduced

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2179
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE ON MOBILITY MANAGEMENT ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO ACT 214, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2013.

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

SECTION 1. Act 214, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013 (Act 214), established a task force on mobility management within the department of health. The task force was required to make recommendations on establishing a transportation framework to assist elders and individuals with disabilities with transportation needs in each county, including recommendations relating to the state budget and program development.

In enacting Act 214, the legislature found that Hawaii's residents, including elders and individuals with disabilities, should be able to live at home with the supports they need so that they can participate in communities that value their contributions. The legislature also found that statewide, especially in rural communities, many residents are without family members nearby to provide transportation and are too frail or disabled to access public transit. Transportation services are often fragmented, underutilized, or difficult to navigate, and can be costly because of inconsistent, duplicative, and often restrictive federal and state program rules and regulations. Due to these circumstances, there is a need for a policy on mobility management, a concept in which a single entity in a geographical area is charged with knowing and deploying the entire array of transportation resources available. This system would focus on the individual and identify the best resources.

Act 214 required the department of health, through the executive office on aging, to submit an interim report of the task force's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2014, and a final report of the task force's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2015.

The legislature finds that the task force's final report, submitted to the legislature on January 30, 2015, addressed the development and establishment of a mobility management program and mobility center in a geographical area; cost and qualifications of transportation/mobility coordinators, and logistics of developing a mobility center/program; and development of a mobility management master plan for each county, and recommended that the State continue to support the counties' efforts in developing their respective mobility management program with the following suggested actions:

(1) Fund local mobility projects identified by the county as priority strategies;

(2) Provide state leadership and coordination for the four counties to leverage federal funding;

(3) Establish a statewide purchasing cooperative among the counties and human service providers to procure new vehicles, technologies, and equipment; and

(4) Support a permanent funding source in any future state or local tax initiative for human service transportation.

The legislature further finds that there is still a strong need for mobility management in the State and it is critical that these recommendations are implemented.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to make an appropriation to the department of transportation to implement the recommendations of the task force on mobility management established pursuant to Act 214, in consultation with the aging and disability resource center of the executive office on aging and other stakeholder groups.

SECTION 2. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. This current declaration takes into account general fund appropriations authorized for fiscal year 2024-2025 in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act only. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

(1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the implementation of the recommendations made by the task force on mobility management established pursuant to Act 214, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, including funding of the following positions:

(1) One mobility manager in each of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui;

(2) One statewide outreach position; and

(3) One statewide coordinator;

provided that the department of transportation shall implement the recommendations made by the task force in consultation with the aging and disability resource center of the executive office on aging and other stakeholder groups.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of transportation for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________