Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2655 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to expedite the process of investigating traffic accidents and fatalities by establishing within the Department of Transportation (DOT) a multidisciplinary accident investigation team consisting of personnel who specialize in highly technological and comprehensive traffic collision investigation.

The Representative of the 42^nd House District and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. DOT supported the intent of this measure. The Police Department opposed this measure.

Your Committee finds that long traffic delays caused by the lengthy traffic accident and fatality investigation process creates unnecessary burdens upon the state's residents and visitors. Creative solutions such as multidisciplinary accident investigation teams, similar to those in California that can expedite investigations within 30 to 60 minutes, are integral to improving Hawaii's traffic burden. However, your Committee notes concerns about possible duplication of services and intends to proceed on this measure in a manner that is most efficient of existing resources.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2655, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2655, H.D. 1.