STAND. COM. REP. NO. 481

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1530
                                     



Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B.
No. 1530 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IMPAIRED DRIVERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to create a similar statutory
authority over drug-impaired drivers as one that was created for
alcohol-impaired drivers in car collisions.

     Your Committee finds that because there have been so many
car collisions involving drivers under the influence of drugs,
there is a need for authorities to be able to report findings
that are not only alcohol-related, but drug-related as well.
Your Committee also finds that the inclusion of drugs related to
schedule V is necessary because these drugs are often found in
drivers who are arrested for driving under the influence or are
involved in car collisions.

     This bill proposes to amend section 286-163, Hawaii Revised
Statues (HRS), by requiring health care providers to report a
patient's blood drug content, as well as blood alcohol content,
if it was found through regular testing that the content level
meets or exceeds the amount specified in section 291-4 or 291-7
(HRS), provided that the patient was involved in a car collision.
It also amends this section by including under the term "drug"
any controlled substance as defined and enumerated on schedules I
through V of chapter 329, (HRS).  It also provides immunity for
health care providers, persons giving the test, as well as

 
 
 
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institutions employing or utilizing such persons, from any civil
liability resulting from their complying with this requirement.

     Testimonies in support of this bill were received from the
Department of Transportation and the Honolulu Police Department.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving and a private citizen supported the
intent of this bill.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
1530 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred
to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Transportation,



                                   ______________________________
                                   KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair