Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations and Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 164 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purposes of this measure are to require persons under the age of sixteen to wear a helmet when riding scooters and skateboards, and to prohibit persons riding scooters or skateboards from clinging to moving vehicles.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, the Department of Health, the City and County of Honolulu Police Department, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, and the Disability and Communication Access Board.

Your Committees find that children are often at great risk while at play, and this measure is an important addition to our existing laws protecting our children. Existing law requires persons under sixteen to wear helmets while riding most types of mobile recreational equipment.

Similarly, clinging to moving vehicles while riding bicycles and other toys is also prohibited by existing law. With the recent proliferation of scooters and skateboards in our community, the amendments contained in this measure make much sense at this time.

Your Committees made two amendments to this measure based on testimony received from the Honolulu Police Department. First, your Committees amended the new definition of "scooter" to include scooters that have been modified to attach a small motor. Also, your Committees deleted scooters from the definition of "toy bicycle" in chapter 291C, to prevent any duplication or conflict with this measure.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations and Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 164, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 164, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.