STAND. COM. REP. NO. 921

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1422

       H.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1422, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to allow the counties to remove abandoned motor vehicles from private roads, if the vehicle is inoperable and the owner or co-owner of a private road requests in writing to the appropriate county authority for the removal of the vehicle.

     This measure also requires the owner of the private road to pay the county for the costs of removal of the vehicle and to agree to indemnify and hold harmless the county for the removal and disposal of the vehicle.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.  Testimony in opposition was received from the Honolulu Police Department.  Comments were received from the City and County of Honolulu and the Counties of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i and Mau‘i.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that abandoned vehicles are littering the private roads and need to be removed.  Current law does not provide for removal of abandoned vehicles on private roads.  Some of these abandoned vehicles pose a public health hazard with leeching battery acids and transmission fluids.  This measure provides a workable solution for both private road owners and the counties, while promoting the public health, safety, and welfare.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1422, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs,

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair