STAND. COM. REP. NO. 44

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1615

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 S.B. No. 1615 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DRIVER LICENSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to add the Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the jurisdictions which the examiner of drivers may waive the knowledge test required for a driver license.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation.  Testimony in opposition was received from the Honolulu Driver Licensing Administrator.

     Under current law, the knowledge test may be waived for any other state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, a province of the Dominion of Canada, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  This measure would give parity in treatment to people of the Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.  This measure would also better enable them to find jobs and housing, which necessitate the use of a car.

     Your Committee finds that citizens of the Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands can move freely between their nations and the United States, in accordance with the Compact of Free Association, as amended in 2003.  This measure is a logical extension of that privilege.

     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 S.B. No. 1615 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