STAND. COM. REP. NO.  594

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 277

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 277 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FEES FOR WINDSHIELD PLACARDS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure fiscal accountability in the process for issuing parking placards for persons with disabilities by requiring the counties to deposit all fees collected for the issuance of temporary or replacement placards into the State general fund.

     The Disabilities and Communication Access Board (DCAB), Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.

     Currently, DCAB reimburses the counties at a rate of $12 per placard for the issuance of temporary or replacement parking placards for persons with disabilities.  However, the individual receiving the temporary or replacement placard must also pay $12 to receive the placard.  Thus, the county must reimburse the State for the issuance of these placards lest they be collecting twice the amount necessary for their issuance.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 277 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair