STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1243

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: S.B. No. 1430
                                     S.D. 2
                                     H.D. 1




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 S.B.
No. 1430, S.D. 2, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO JUVENILE SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to reduce risks of head injuries
to children playing with wheeled apparatus on public property.

     Your Committee finds that many head injuries occur to
children riding bicycles, and to children while using other
wheeled apparatus in their recreational pursuits.  Your Committee
further finds that many injuries could be avoided by having
children wear helmets while riding bicycles and playing on other
wheeled apparatus.

     This bill proposes that minors under the age of twelve be
required to wear protective helmets while operating wheeled
apparatus on public property.  Wheeled apparatus includes mini-
bikes, all terrain vehicles, skateboards, inline skates, roller
skates, bicycles, and unicycles.  To encourage compliance with
this safety measure, parents or guardians would be subject to
written warnings for the first and second violations, and fines
of $50 for subsequent violations.

     Testimonies in support of this bill were received from the
Department of Transportation, and the Hawai'i Bicycling League.
The Department of Health and the Keiki Injury Prevention

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1243
                                 Page 2

 
Coalition testified in support of the intent of this bill, but
asked that the ages be extended to ages 18 and 15, respectively.
The City and County of Honolulu Police Department supports the
intent of the bill, but expressed concern about the costs of
developing a special program to enforce the law.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by having its
provisions apply to all children under the age of 15.

     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 S.B. No.
1430, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1430, S.D.
2, H.D. 1, 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