HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1503
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the commuter benefits program.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that commuter benefits programs promote the reduction of traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and the State's reliance on imported fossil fuel. Commuter benefits will help the State to meet the Hawaii clean energy initiative standards and achieve the greenhouse gas reduction target established by Act 234, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007.

Commuter benefits are employer-provided benefits that allow employees to reduce their transportation costs for transit, vanpooling, and biking under section 132(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, by permitting employees to use pre-tax dollars, subject to monthly limits, to pay for their commuting expenses.

The purpose of this Act is to authorize the counties to adopt an ordinance requiring employers to offer employees specified commuter benefits options.

SECTION 2. Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§46- Commuter benefits program. (a) The counties may adopt an ordinance establishing a commuter benefits program that consists of one or more of the following commuter benefit options:

(1) A program, consistent with section 132(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, allowing covered employees to elect to exclude from taxable wages costs incurred for transit passes, vanpool charges, and bicycle commuting costs up to the maximum amount allowed by federal tax law;

(2) A program whereby the employer offers employees a subsidy to offset the monthly cost of commuting via transit or by vanpool. The subsidy shall be equal to the lesser of the monthly cost of a transit pass or the monthly cost of a vanpool. An employer may provide a subsidy for bicycle commuting costs in addition to subsidies for transit and vanpool costs; or

(3) Transportation furnished by the employer at no cost or low cost, as determined by the designated authority, to employees in a vanpool, bus, or similar multi-passenger vehicle operated by or for the employer.

(b) Nothing in this section shall prevent a covered employer from offering a more generous commuter benefit that is otherwise consistent with the requirements of the applicable commuter benefits ordinance. Nothing in this section shall require employees to change their method of commute. This section shall not be construed to absolve any employer or other party from any obligation required by an existing collective bargaining agreement with employees or any provision of law.

"Employee" means any person who is on the employer's payroll and works in a full-time or part-time position. The term includes any person who is entitled to payment of a minimum wage from an employer under the Hawaii minimum wage law.

"Employer" means any person, including corporate officers or executives, who directly or indirectly or through an agent or any other person, including through the services of a temporary services or staffing agency or similar entity, employs or exercises control over the wages, hours, or working conditions of an employee.

"Transit pass" means any pass, token, fare card, voucher, or similar item entitling a person to transportation on public transit, including but not limited to travel by bus or train.

"Vanpool" means any highway vehicle that:

(1) Has the seating capacity of at least six adults, not including the driver; and

(2) Is reasonably expected to use at least 80 per cent of the mileage for the purpose of transporting a number of employees equal to at least 50 per cent of the seating capacity of the vehicle, not including the driver, in connection with travel between the residence and place of employment of employees."

SECTION 3. The counties shall be responsible for the creation and implementation of any commuter benefits programs established pursuant to this Act following the enactment of this Act.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on October 1, 2015.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________