STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1865

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1191

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1191, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve pedestrian safety, especially for elderly persons, by:

(1)  Requiring the Department of Transportation (DOT) to:

(A)  Work with the counties and nonprofit organizations to identify and implement immediate improvements to high-risk crosswalks and road crossings;

(B)  Conduct a pilot study to identify state and county intersections where the time to cross the intersection is insufficient for elderly pedestrians;

(C)  Develop additional design, funding, and installation plans to make crosswalks and road crossings safer for pedestrians; and

(D)  Submit an interim report to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008 and a final report prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009 detailing the accomplishments, findings, future plans, cost estimates, and any proposed legislation recommended by the study;

(2)  Appropriating funds for DOT to:

(A)  Work with counties and nonprofit organizations in identifying and implementing improvements to high-risk crosswalks and road crossings;

(B)  Conduct the study to identify state and county intersections where the time to cross the intersection is insufficient for elderly, child, and disabled pedestrians;

(C)  Develop additional plans to make crosswalks and roadways safer;

(D)  Purchase and install traffic countdown timers at state-controlled intersections;

(E)  Conduct a public awareness campaign on pedestrian safety;

(F)  Purchase and install pedestrian activated signals; and

(G)  Conduct pilot projects such as the painting of advanced crosswalk markings, hand-carried signs and flags, and enforcement of crosswalks laws for drivers and pedestrians;

(3)  Appropriating funds for grants-in-aid to the counties for the purchase and installation of traffic countdown timers, provided that the counties provide matching funds;

     (4)  Establishing a Photo Red Light Imaging Detector System Program (Program) to improve enforcement of the traffic signal laws;

(5)  Allowing counties to implement the Program;

     (6)  Allowing fines collected under county Programs to be deposited into a Photo Red Light Imaging Detector System Program Account (Account) within the general fund; and

     (7)  Requiring funds from the Account to be expended in the county in which the fine was collected for the establishment, operation, management, and maintenance of the Program.

     The Disability and Communication Access Board, Honolulu Police Department, Kokua Council, AARP Hawaii, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Hawaii Bicycling League, Downtown Neighborhood Board No. 13, Kauai Path Committee, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Sierra Club-Oahu Group, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu testified in support of the intent of this measure.  DOT, the Department of Health, and Judiciary submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

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

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair