STAND. COM. REP. NO.  56-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2608

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2608 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote highway safety by:

     (1)  Requiring the Director of the State Department of Transportation to establish and appoint the members of a statewide driver's license reciprocity committee to evaluate the written knowledge and practical examination program of a foreign country whenever a foreign country makes a request for driver's license reciprocity;

     (2)  Establishing a process to ensure the standards of the foreign countries' driver's license testing is equivalent to Hawaii's driver's license testing; and

     (3)  Providing for the notification to the Legislature of the findings and recommendations of the statewide driver's license reciprocity committee.

The Department of Transportation and Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu testified in support of this measure.
     Although individuals with a foreign driver's license may currently operate a motor vehicle on Hawaii's roadways, the license they are using is merely a permit to operate a motor vehicle and not a full-fledged license under Hawaii law.  However, Hawaii law currently allows reciprocity for certain licenses issued by foreign countries that meet specific requirements.  Unfortunately, ensuring that a foreign country's driver's license testing standards are equivalent to Hawaii's driver's license testing standards is difficult and must be done on a case by case basis when reciprocity is requested.  Establishing a process to properly evaluate a foreign country's request for driver's license reciprocity will ensure that drivers from these countries meet Hawaii's driver licensing standards and therefore maintain safety on our roadways.

     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 H.B. No. 2608 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on International Affairs.

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

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair