STAND. COM. REP. NO.  707-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   S.B. No. 2105

      S.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 2105, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve the administration of the parking program for persons with disabilities by, among other things:

     (1)  Designating the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB) as the issuing agency for removable windshield placards, temporary removable windshield placards, special license plates, and identification cards;

     (2)  Removing the specific reference to the counties as the issuing agency while maintaining DCAB's flexibility to contract with the counties to issue removable windshield placards, temporary removable windshield placards, special license plates, and identification cards on DCAB's behalf;

     (3)  Allowing the counties to retain any transaction fees charged for the issuance of placards, special license plates, and identification cards;

     (4)  Extending the duration a removable windshield placard is effective from four to six years;

     (5)  Providing for the issuance of a second removable windshield placard or temporary removable windshield placard upon request of the applicant and verification of the applicant's disability; and

     (6)  Removing the reimbursement rate to the counties from statute and establishing it by administrative rules.

     DCAB and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu provided comments.

     DCAB currently administers, and has the overall responsibility for the coordination of, the parking program for persons with disabilities.  While the counties have been issuing parking placards, special license plates, and identification cards on behalf of the State, specifying that DCAB is the issuing agency for these items and may contract with the counties to provide this service on behalf of the State more accurately reflects the federal law requirements for this program.

     In the past, reimbursement rates to the counties for their role in the program were statutorily established and the fees counties collected for transactions in issuing placards, special license plates, and identification cards were remitted to the general fund.  This measure simplifies the accounting process.

     Finally, your Committee finds that extending the duration a removable windshield placard is effective from four to six years will be a cost savings measure for DCAB while maintaining the integrity of the program.  This will also be beneficial to persons with permanent disabilities in that they would have a longer period of time before having to renew their placard.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2105, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Health.

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

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair