STAND. COM. REP. NO.  310

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 1640

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1640 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CERTIFICATES OF IDENTIFICATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Attorney General to cooperate with the appropriate county agencies to allow the counties to issue civil identification at locations where driver's licenses are issued.  The measure requires the Attorney General to submit a report of findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the 2012 regular session.

The League of Women Voters of Hawaii and one concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Department of the Attorney General supported the intent of this measure.  The City and County of Honolulu commented on behalf of itself and Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui Counties supported the bill, suggesting amendments.

Your Committee notes the additional costs and technical challenges involved in requiring the counties to take responsibility for issuing civil identification.  However, your Committee finds that Hawaii is the sole state to issue civil identification and driver's licenses through separate branches of government. Therefore, increasing the efficiency and access of the application process warrants further consideration.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Requiring the Attorney General to establish a program for counties to issue civil identification;

     (2)  Including the Department of Transportation as a consulting party in establishing the program and formulating the mandated report to the Legislature;

     (3)  Changing its effective date to January 7, 2059, to encourage further discussion, excepting section 3 of the Act, which is still to take effect upon the bill's approval; and

     (4)  Making technical, non-substantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 1640, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1640, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

GILBERT KEITH-AGARAN, Chair