Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 1603, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to require health care professionals caring for a motor vehicle collision victim to notify law enforcement personnel if they become aware of drugs in a person's blood or urine that could impair that person's driving.

The Department of Transportation, the Honolulu Police Department, the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving testified in support of this bill.

Your Committee notes that related provisions in Act 189, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000, which consolidated statutes relating to impaired driving and boating, will become law in January 2002. However, because of the importance of this information to law enforcement officers, your Committee finds that this bill will allow these officers to take precautions immediately instead of waiting for January 2002. The importance of removing impaired drivers from our highways cannot be stressed enough. Public safety demands that law enforcement officers have the tools necessary to ensure highway safety for all.

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. 1603, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.