Bill > SB396

This bill seeks to address inequities in transportation benefits for state employees by requiring the Director of Human Resources Development to create a comprehensive Commuting Choice Benefit Program that provides equitable support for all transportation modes. Currently, state employees receive heavily subsidized parking but limited benefits for alternative transportation methods like walking, biking, public transit, or using wheelchairs. The proposed program would encourage sustainable and healthy commuting options by offering benefits for employees regardless of their chosen mode of transportation, mirroring successful policies implemented in other jurisdictions like Washington, D.C. The bill highlights that while state employees can currently purchase parking at significantly reduced rates (around one-third of public rates), there are no comparable benefits for those using buses, bicycles, or other transportation methods. The Director will need to develop this program in consultation with the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, State Energy Office, and Department of Accounting and General Services, and must submit a progress report to the Legislature before the 2026 regular session. The bill includes an appropriation to fund the program's development and implementation, with an intended effective date of July 1, 2050.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=396&year=2026