The Committee on Human Services and the Committee on Transportation voted to pass SB 3002 SD1 with amendments on March 19, advancing a measure to appropriate staff and implement recommendations from a mobility-management task force intended to coordinate transportation for elders and people with disabilities.

Supporters told the committees the bill would fill gaps in services statewide and increase independence for people who cannot drive. The measure drew backing from advocacy groups and state agencies, but committee members noted disagreement about which state department should host the new coordinating positions and said they will seek follow-up conversations before later committees act.

SB 3002 SD1 would implement recommendations from a mobility-management task force (report dated Feb. 2013) and create staff positions to improve coordination of human-services transportation. Testimony cited transportation shortfalls for kupuna and people with disabilities on neighbor islands and for paratransit users.

James Gashel, representing the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, said, "We definitely support this bill," and called it ‘‘hugely important’’ to address gaps in transportation availability for kupuna and people with disabilities. Donald Sakamoto, also with the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, urged prompt action and quoted Benjamin Franklin: "By failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail." Kylie Swan, who identified herself as a bus user, said she strongly supports the bill because public transit "gives independence," and testified that services on neighbor islands are less accessible than on Oahu.

Committee members discussed where the bill’s positions should be housed. The Department of Transportation had submitted written comments noting it recently updated the Coordinated Public Transit–Human Services Transportation Plan (May 2022) and questioned whether DOT is the right agency to host the positions. Lauren Kim, policy officer for the Department of Health, said the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB) is "statutorily authorized to improve systemwide coordination for disabled persons' access," and she said she would follow up with DCAB leadership to see if they would accept a role. The transcript shows differing views in testimony about whether DOT or another agency should host the positions; committee members said the contention would be noted in the committee report and that staff would seek agency input before the next committee.

Witnesses referenced prior recommendations for staffing levels. One written testimony referenced five positions; the mobility-management report cited in testimony recommended one coordinator per county plus one state position. The record did not specify an appropriation amount in committee testimony.

Multiple organizations filed written support: the Department of Health (comments), Department of Human Services (comments), Executive Office on Aging, DCAB, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, State Rehabilitation Council, AARP Hawaii, Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, and two individuals.

During decision making the presiding committee advanced the bill "with amendments" and deferred the bill’s effective date in committee language to July 1, 3000, a placeholder date used for later amendment. The Human Services committee recorded votes with the chair and vice chair voting aye; Representative Belotti, Representative Iligan, Representative Kobayashi, Representative Takanucci and Representative Garcia voting aye; Representative Nishimoto was excused. The Transportation committee recorded a similar vote with all present voting aye. The committees’ action will be reflected in the committee report and follow-up meetings with agencies are planned to resolve which entity will take on coordination responsibilities.

Implementation questions remain: which agency will accept the coordinating role and the final staffing and appropriation amounts. Committee members and witnesses said those discussions will continue before the bill moves further through the Legislature.