STAND. COM. REP. NO.  721

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 869

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 869 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to clarify and extend the notice provision under which the owner of a rental motor vehicle will not be responsible for a lessee's traffic infraction.  Specifically, this bill:

(1)  Extends the time period in which the owner must provide the lessee's name and address from 45 to 60 days; and

(2)  Clarifies that the time period begins on the date of the mailing of the notice.

     Catrala-Hawaii, Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., Avis Budget Group – Hawaii Region, Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent A Car, National Car Rental, and the Hertz Corporation supported this bill with amendments.  The Judiciary commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  In addition to the owner's obligation to provide the lessee's name and address, requiring the court to mail a copy of the summons or citation to the rental motor vehicle owner within 60 days of its issuance for the owner to be responsible for the violation;

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2046, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 869, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 869, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JON RIKI KARAMATSU, Chair