Requires an advance refundable vehicle disposal fee for registration of motor vehicles; unclaimed fees escheat to county to be used for disposing of abandoned vehicles. Applies to any county with a population of 500,000 or less. (SD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding one new section to part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§286-   Advance refundable vehicle disposal fee; environmental management special fund. (a) Beginning September 16, 2006, any county with a population of 500,000 or less shall impose an advance refundable vehicle disposal fee of $      for every motor vehicle to be paid:

(b) The fee shall be refunded to the registered owner at the time the motor vehicle is surrendered to a county vehicle disposal center.

(c) Any claim to the fee shall be transferred upon a transfer of the title to or interest of an owner in the registered motor vehicle.

(d) The county shall issue a certificate acknowledging payment of the fee and shall keep records necessary to refund the fee.

(e) If a motor vehicle is abandoned pursuant to chapter 290, the fee for that motor vehicle shall escheat to the county and shall be deposited into an environmental management special fund to be established by each county and used for disposing of abandoned vehicles.

(f) Each county shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to effectuate the purpose of this section, including instances when a motor vehicle is moved to another county."

SECTION 2. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on upon approval.