Senate Standing Committee on Government Operations

Aloha, everybody.

Welcome to the Joint Committee hearing between government operations and our amazing friends at Transportation Culture of the Arts. This hearing is Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 3:03pm Convenient conference from 2 to 5 being streamed live on YouTube. Unlikely event that we have to abruptly end the hearing due to technical difficulties.

We'll reconvene discuss any outstanding business at 3:01 p.m. Tuesday, February 18 and 225. I don't think they'll be possible because dead public notice will be posted on the Ledger's website. So in order to facilitate the hearing timely manner enforcing a two minute limit on testimony. First up, we have Senate Bill 1092 relating to transportation demand management.

Establishes demand management program and deard and DAGS to employees. First up we have DHRD. Okay, thank you so much. Comptroller Keith Regan. DAGS written with comments. Is he on Zoom? Nope. Okay, next up, Deputy Attorney General. Oh, there you are. Okay.

Thank you so much. Mark Blick, White State Energy Office. Okay, thank you so much. Mary Alice Evans, Office of State Planning and Development. Written in support, we have Climate Change Coordinator for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Okay, thank you so much. We have Randy Pereira, hgea written in support. Abby Seats Appleseed.

They have sent communications and support. Mariah Yoshizu, Ulupono Initiative. They too have written in support. Eduardo Hernandez, individual in support. And we also have OMPA.

Thank you so much. We also have numerous individuals. Actually 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 individuals. Kiana Osaka, Molly Mamrell, Amy Chang, Julie Kuo, Nathan Dube and Justin Menina all have sent communications to the committees in support. And finally, Michael Arakaki for DAGS. Yes. Is he on Zoom? Okay,

Yes, I'm here.

We can't see you at all. Oh, there we go. Go ahead. Your two minutes are starting.

You're up. Okay. Aloha Chairs, Vice Chairs and Committee Members. We stand by the written testimony submitted by the Comptroller and available for any questions.

Okay, thank you so much. Appreciate you staying within 30 seconds. So that's all I see for 1092. Anybody in the audience or Zoom world wishing to testify. Seeing non Members. Are there questions?

I have questions. Okay. I'm just kind of concerned. I'm concerned about this measure. Secondly, the question is part of the bill. It says employees who opt out of offered parking at state parking facilities. So is this a mandatory program? Whoever. Now you also said you did is you do.

You will be doing a study or you already did a study to the second question.

We're just wrapping it up now, but we've completed most of the study. We're just working on our final report documenting our focus group summary, our employee survey, and then some spatial analyses around where people live relative to where they work. And then.

Okay, and then first, first question was about whether the parking opt out or parking cash out program is mandatory. So it's not mandatory. It's a program that's meant to help address the. The really long employee parking waiting list.

So we want to provide some sort of incentive for folks who don't need their parking every day by providing them a financial incentive to opt out of that employee parking. So not mandatory, just an option to help incentivize employees to not take a state employee parking spot if they don't need it every day.

Okay. Aside from the parking, is this program mandatory?

No.

Okay, as long as it's not mandatory and gives the opportunity for employees. Because I think this covers all state employees and not only this capital employees, right? Correct. Okay.

The concern I have is we have to understand that there are many of our employees, young and old, who needs to have their car to pick up the kids or any emergencies that alert that they can get into a car and go where they need to to be. So that's, that's a concern I have. But nonetheless, if.

Yeah, okay, I'll end there.

Plan or is used to study. There's no actual plan. Right?

Not a. I guess I would, I would ask you what, what you mean by plan.

Well, an actual plan, a programmatic plan, down to the details. You've done a study, but you don't have a plan.

So. I have, I have not a like a full blown plan as part of this study, but we did develop some draft programmatic eligibilities for consideration for D Herd and dags have drafted some cost estimates, but not like a down to the details plan.

That's not going to cut it for them. Yeah, I mean they need a plan. I think that's what my colleague from the Big island is saying. So there's clearly work to be done. Okay, thank you. Any other questions? Members collectively speaking? If not, let's move on the next one. Agenda 1093. Parking demand management.

Instead of transportation demand, we're going parking demand management. Establishing a parking demand management program requiring DAGs to transition all state employees from monthly parking options to daily rate parking. Also appoints two FTEs. First up we have is the comptroller you want to take this, sir? Go for it.

Aloha Chair, vice chairs and committee members. We stand by the written testimony submitted by the comptroller and available to answer any questions.

Okay, thank you so much. Appreciate it. We'll note it that you've also signed up as well in addition to the comptroller. we have Deputy Attorney General Stella. Okay. We have John G. McDermott, Ombudsman Program. They have sit and written in opposition. Hawaii State Energy Office. Okay, thank you so much.

HGEA, they have sent written testimony in strong opposition to this one. We have Mariah Yoshizo, Ulupono Initiative written in support. We have OMPA again.

In support. We also did the study. That's also in limited recommendations.

Okay. And then also we have testimony from, let's see. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 individuals. Of the 13, 12 of them are in strong opposition. One is in support. We have late from the Director of Transportation, Mr. Sniffin. Two is in opposition.

And we also have Tommy Johnson, Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Okay, thank you so much. That is all we have on 1093. Is there anybody in the audience wishing to testify? Members, questions? Yes.

Question for the AG, Deputy Attorney General Kam. Good afternoon. Ms. Kam. So in your testimony, I think this is the second to last paragraph, you mentioned about the pre tax deduction being eliminated. Can you elaborate to these committees why that would be the case?

Okay. Right now there is a monthly charge for those permit holders who have state parking. And so that comes out of their paycheck.

And so because that amount is set based upon whether they have covered or uncovered parking, DAG is, or I guess and I'm not exactly sure, I think it's DAGs, is able to deduct it out of their gross pay so that their. Their taxable pay is less. It's minus that amount.

But that would not be possible if they're paying on a daily basis.

Okay, thank you for the clarification.

For the question. Anybody else, any more questions? All right, let's move on to the last bill on the agenda which is 1121 relating to transportation. Says that beginning January 1, 2027 will establish a preference in the procurement code that favors bids or offers from construction companies with electric vehicles.

First up we have Deputy Attorney General's Office. Okay, next up we have the comptroller. Go ahead, sir.

Aloha chairs, vice chairs and committee members. We stand by the written testimony submitted by the comptroller. Jo Lee from the DAGs Public Works Branch is present to answer any questions.

Okay, thank you so much. I appreciate that. We also have our procurement office. Okay, thank you so much. We also have Climate Change Mitigation Adaptation Commission. Okay. We have late, from Department of Transportation, written testimony in opposition. And then we have. Oh, this is from DAGs, again with comments. That's all we have on 1121.

Everybody in. Anybody in the audience or Zoom world wishing to testify. Seeing none. Members, questions? Go for it, Senator Buenaventura.

For DAGS. Okay. Who's gonna testify for DAGS? Basically, I noticed its comments and I don't know about construction equipment. I used to own all electric vehicle, but what kind of charging capacity does DAGS need to build in order to have construction vehicles being all electric?

Is it going to be the same charger that they have or, or what?

Well, I don't know if DAGS would be building it because this is going to be out at construction sites. It's not going to be at public buildings.

But if we're going to require the bidder or the offer.

Oh, we're not requiring. It's a preference.

Okay. No, I have more questions. Do we have any capacity right now for the batteries of these of electric cars? I mean, what, what. Do you know what we do with them if they end up having to be replaced? I mean, do they go to our landfills or where do they go?

Does anybody know?

Great question that we brought up last year too.

Yeah.

Can I join in the comments?

Yeah, go ahead.

Okay. When I chaired energy as well, I was concerned about the batteries for all the EVs at that time. And in contacting with the makers of the batteries, this was about four years ago, there was no guidance yet as to those batteries that are in the US. So.

And there's no place at that time. So, I think so it's kind of mood right now.

Okay, thank you very much for that observation. Any other questions, comments, observations? Okay, cool. You can be happy with our recommendations. Oh.

All right. All right, let's DM these bad boys. So first one, Senate Bill 1092. As we heard from the testimony, there's been a study but no plan, so we're going to turn this bill into a plan bill and we're going to replace DHRD with DOT. And of course we'll take, we'll have them look at create a plan around all the elements in the measure and then report back to us next year. Defective date of 2491. Members, questions? Comments? If not, Vice Chair. 1092 SD1, I vote yes.

Recommendation on SB 1092 is to pass with amendments. Chair votes aye. Vice Chair votes aye. [Roll Call] Measure passes.

Thank you, guys.

Thank you. Committee on Transportation, same recommendation.

Question. Okay, so is this a plan? You said a plan or a study?

It's a plan.

Okay, so the plan is... So the positions recognized in this measure, does it remain?

Well, we're going to keep it in there for WAM to decide. That's not our call.

Okay. And whatever. Okay. All right. Nobody else with comments? Okay. For the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, Chair's recommendation on SB 1092 is to pass with amendments. Okay. [Roll Call] Measure's adopted, Mr. Chair.

Okay, thank you very much. Thank you. 1093, given the overwhelming opposition and questions of the measure, recommendation is to defer indefinitely. We are going to probably work on a reso to keep the conversation going though. And then finally, the last measure on the agenda, given the conversations, the opposition of DOT, what's happening with the federal government in Maui, it's in the best interest that we defer this measure.

Okay. This concludes the hearing. All right. Thank you, guys. Oh, wait, wait. Sorry. Same recommendation. We go ahead... And thank you. This concludes the Joint Hearing of Government Operations and Transportation, Culture, and the Arts. Mahalo, everybody.