Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2215, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase sanctions for driving with a high blood alcohol level.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Health, the Department of Transportation, the Honolulu Police Department, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaii (MADD). The Office of the Public Defender submitted testimony in opposition to this measure. The Judiciary offered comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that drivers who have a high blood alcohol content continue to pose an increased risk to Hawaii's public. Based upon the testimony of the Department of Transportation, a person with a high blood alcohol level of 0.15 per cent or higher is three hundred eighty times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than a non-drinker. This measure will enhance the punishment for drivers with blood alcohol levels of 0.15 per cent or higher.

Your Committee also notes that it is amenable to the amendments proposed by MADD and that MADD's amendments have prior concurrence from the subject matter committee, the Committee on Transportation and Government Operations.

Your Committee amended this measure, based upon the recommendations of the Judiciary and with the concurrence of MADD, to change the effective date to January 1, 2007 to allow sufficient time to implement this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2215, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2215, S.D. 2.