HB 1370 Summary

• Establishes the Kawaihapai Airfield Authority (also known as Dillingham Airfield) as an independent state agency to manage and operate the airfield in place of the Department of Transportation.

• Creates a five-member board of directors appointed by the governor, with two members nominated by the House District 45 representative and Senate District 23 senator respectively; board members must have relevant business and management experience.

• Grants the authority broad powers including control over airfield operations, ability to issue revenue bonds, establish fees and rates for airfield use, own and lease property, and manage capital improvement projects.

• Removes the airfield from Department of Transportation control effective July 1, 2021, with all related appropriations, records, and equipment transferred to the new authority; appropriates $100,000 from airfield revenue fund for the transition.

• Amends multiple statutes to grant the authority exemptions from civil service requirements, allow it to hire its own attorneys, and treat its lands separately from state public lands under Chapter 171.