STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2406

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2159

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2159 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAFFIC ABSTRACT FEE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to increase the fee for a traffic abstract from $7 to $10 and to deposit the amount of the increase into the general fund.

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from the Judiciary.  The Hawaii Insurers Council, State Farm, and the United Services Automobile Association submitted comments in opposition.  The written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that traffic abstract fees have not changed since 1996.  Your Committee also finds that the $3 increase in the traffic abstract fee would put Hawaii on par with other state traffic abstract fees and below Nevada ($11), Texas ($20), and Idaho ($26).  Your Committee believes that the $3 increase is nominal and could generate $1,500,000 for deposit into the general fund.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2159 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair