Bill Text: HI SR151 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Resolution 151 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Transportation, In Collaboration With The Hawaii Tourism Authority, To Develop A Travel Restriction Notification Procedure For Adoption By Any Passenger Airline Operating In The State.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-05-21 - Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). [SR151 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SR151-Amended.html

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	151
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

Requesting the department of transportation, in collaboration with the hawaii tourism authority, to develop a travel restriction notification procedure for adoption by any passenger airline operating in the State.

WHEREAS, in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and pursuant to the Governor's Second Supplementary Proclamation, a fourteen-day self-quarantine mandate was established for each person entering the State, except those performing certain emergency response or critical infrastructure functions, effective March 26, 2020; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Governor's Fourth Supplementary Proclamation, this mandatory self-quarantine was extended to all interisland travelers, except those performing certain medical, health care, or critical infrastructure functions, effective April 1, 2020; and

WHEREAS, any person arriving in the State or traveling interisland is required to provide a specific quarantine location to the Director of Emergency Management or the Director's authorized representative; and

WHEREAS, any person who enters the State but fails to provide the appropriate authority with a residential address or hotel reservation at which that person will self-quarantine is required to leave the State, book appropriate accommodations, or face arrest; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to rules adopted in the Governor's Second Supplementary Proclamation, any person who intentionally or knowingly violates the mandatory fourteen-day self-quarantine shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; and

WHEREAS, upon conviction, any person guilty of the misdemeanor of violating the self-quarantine mandate will be fined up to $5,000, imprisoned for up to one year, or both; and

WHEREAS, travelers entering the State continue to violate the self-quarantine mandate, placing the people of Hawaii at risk; and

WHEREAS, airlines have developed procedures to inform travelers of any travel restrictions in the various disembarkation locations that are serviced by the airlines; and

WHEREAS, the varying procedures adopted by airlines to notify travelers regarding travel restrictions related to COVID‑19, including any self-quarantine mandates, may cause confusion for actual or prospective travelers to the State; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, that the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, is requested to develop a travel restriction notification procedure for any passenger airline operating in the State to inform potential and actual travelers to Hawaii of the State's specific travel restrictions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any travel restriction notification procedure developed pursuant to this Resolution is requested to include a clear notice to be furnished to any traveler booking a flight online with the airline, as well as at least one additional message directed to any passenger traveling to the State, to be sent no less than twenty-four hours prior to the scheduled boarding of the flight; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to contact any impacted airline or airline group to gather input regarding the minimum messaging requirements and appropriate methods of communication; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to obtain a commitment from impacted airlines and airline groups to voluntarily adopt any travel restriction notification procedures developed by the Department of Transportation pursuant to this Resolution; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of the Attorney General is requested to review and recommend legal options regarding the State's authority to mandate a travel restriction notification procedure for airlines operating within the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of the Attorney General is requested to submit its recommended legal options to the Department of Transportation no later than May 29, 2020; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than June 5, 2020; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Transportation; President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority; Attorney General; Adjutant General; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chief Executive Officer of Oneworld; Chief Executive Officer of SkyTeam; Chief Executive Officer of Star Alliance; Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia X; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alaska Airlines; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fiji Airways; President and Chief Executive Officer of Hawaiian Airlines; Chief Executive Officer of Jetstar Airways; Chief Executive Officer of Jin Air; Chief Executive Officer of Mokulele Airlines; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Philippine Airlines; Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Airlines; Chief Executive Officer of Sun Country Airlines; President and Chief Executive Officer of WestJet; and President of ZIPAIR Tokyo Inc.

Report Title:

COVID-19 Travel Restriction Notification Procedure for Airlines