STAND. COM. REP. NO.  177

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 90

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 90 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a temporary Emergency Response Vehicle Noise Task Force within the Department of Health to examine the use and effectiveness of lights and sirens on emergency response vehicles when these vehicles respond to emergency calls.  Specifically, the Task Force shall determine:

     (1)  The noise impact of sirens used by emergency response vehicles and whether these sirens enhance the safety of first responders and the public; and

     (2)  The effectiveness of the use of lights rather than sirens by emergency response vehicles at night.

The State Fire Council, City and County of Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Division, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Transportation supported the intent of this measure.  The Queen's Medical Center offered comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Reducing the number of members on the task force;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 90, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 90, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair