STAND. COM. REP. NO.  269

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1176

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1176 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to require new motor vehicle dealers and transferees, upon subsequent transfer of title, to pay to the Department of Health a mandatory motor vehicle disposal fee for deposit into the environmental management special fund.

     This measure also uses the mandatory motor vehicle disposal fees to finance motor vehicle disposal programs in the counties and to provide refunds to motor vehicle owners upon a transfer in ownership.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Mayor and the Department of Environmental Management of the county of Hawaii, the Windward Ahupua‘a Alliance, and a concerned citizen.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health, the Hawaii Automobile Dealers' Association, Catrala-Hawaii, and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

     Your Committee finds that this measure creates a dedicated fund that will provide both the counties and motor vehicle owners with financial support to dispose of motor vehicles that have reached the end of their useful lives.  Your Committee also finds that this measure will place the costs of motor vehicle disposal specifically upon motor vehicle owners rather than upon landowners or taxpayers in general.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting and replacing its contents with language that amends the county motor vehicle registration laws by authorizing the directors of finance of the counties to establish an additional motor vehicle registration fee for the purpose of operating a new motor vehicle recovery program within the respective counties.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1176, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1176, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Economic Development & Business Concerns and Transportation.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair