Requires the State to reimburse counties for issuing parking placards to persons with disabilities; directs auditor to conduct cost analysis. (SB2504 HD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Chapter 291, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§291-   Reimbursement to counties. The State shall reimburse the counties for the unit cost of issuing a removable and temporary removable windshield placard on behalf of the State. Beginning July 1, 2006, the rate of the per unit cost reimbursement shall be $12."

SECTION 2. Section 291-51.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§291-51.6 Issuance of temporary removable windshield parking placards. Each county [may] shall issue one temporary removable windshield placard and a second temporary removable windshield placard to each applicant who requests and presents a certificate of disability that verifies the duration of the applicant's disability in monthly increments, which shall not exceed six months[, and upon payment of a fee to the issuing agency]. The temporary removable windshield placard shall be designed, fabricated, and sold to the counties at a rate negotiated by the disability and communication access board."

SECTION 3. Section 291-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§291-52 Issuance of removable windshield placard. Each county [may] shall issue one removable windshield placard and a second removable windshield placard to each applicant who so requests and presents a certificate of disability that verifies that the applicant's disability is expected to last for at least four years. The removable windshield placard shall expire four years after the date of its issuance. The removable windshield placard shall be designed, fabricated, and sold to the counties at a rate negotiated by the disability and communication access board."

SECTION 4. Section 291-52.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§291-52.6 Replacement of a lost, stolen, or mutilated placard or identification card. A removable windshield placard, temporary removable windshield placard, or identification card that is reported lost, stolen, or mutilated [may] shall be replaced upon the submittal of a written statement by a person with a disability that the placard or identification card was either lost, stolen, or mutilated and a completed application for a removable windshield placard, temporary removable windshield placard, or identification card to the issuing agency."

SECTION 5. Section 291-56, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§291-56 Rules. The disability and communication access board [may] shall adopt rules under chapter 91 to carry out the purposes of this part, including rules for:

SECTION 6. The state auditor is directed to conduct an analysis of the cost to the State of reimbursing the counties for issuing removable and temporary windshield placards as provided under section 1 of this Act.

The state auditor shall report findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the regular session of 2007.

SECTION 7. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $51,180 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 to assist in implementing the purposes of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall constitute the State's share of the cost of mandated programs under article VIII, section 5 of the State Constitution.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health's disability and communication access board.

SECTION 8. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 7 shall take effect on July 1, 2006.