CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 41

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2007

RE:    S.B. No. 1191

       S.D. 2

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1191, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to make appropriations for various traffic improvements to enhance pedestrian safety, and to establish a photo red light imaging detector system program.

     This measure makes appropriations to the Department of Transportation for the following purposes:

     (1)  To identify and implement immediate improvements to high-risk crosswalks and road crossings;

     (2)  To work with the counties and nonprofit organizations to identify and implement improvements to high-risk crosswalks and road crossings, and to concurrently conduct a study to identify state and county intersections where the time to cross the intersection is insufficient for the elderly, children, and disabled pedestrians, and to develop additional plans to make crosswalks and roadways safer;

     (3)  For the purchase and installation of traffic countdown timers at state-controlled intersections;

     (4)  For a public awareness campaign on pedestrian safety; and

     (5)  For the purchase and installation of pedestrian-activated signals, and for pilot projects such as the painting of advanced crosswalk markings, hand-carried signs and flags, and enforcement of crosswalk laws for drivers and pedestrians, among others.

     This measure also makes appropriations to the counties as follows:

     (1)  For the purchase and installation of traffic countdown timers; provided that each county shall provide matching funds; and

     (2)  For the purposes of establishing the photo red light imaging detector system program.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that the elderly, children, and disabled persons are the most vulnerable to pedestrian accidents, while others are also at risk.  Making Hawaii's roadways safer for pedestrians is consistent with Kamehameha's famous law, Ke Kanawai Mamalahoe, the Law of the Splintered Paddle, now in Article IX of the State Constitution.  Ke Kanawai Mamalahoe ensures that every man, woman, and child is able to travel freely and in peace, with the right "to lie down to sleep by the roadside without fear of harm."  Due to the alarming rise in pedestrian accidents so far this year, immediate action is needed.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Appropriating the sum of $1,500,000 in each fiscal year ($3,000,000 total) for expenditure by the Department of Transportation of which ($1,800,000 total) to be expended for pedestrian safety improvements, and as matching grants-in-aid to each county ($1,200,000 total) for pedestrian safety improvements;

     (2)  Deleting all other appropriations;

     (3)  Deleting the provisions relating to a photo red light imaging detector system; and

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2007.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1191, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1191, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Co-Chair	____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair
____________________________ MARILYN B. LEE, Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Co-Chair