STAND. COM. REP. NO. 983

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 113

       H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation and Energy, to which was referred H.B. No. 113, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to exempt vehicles transporting asphalt or other high temperature loads from the requirement that their loads be covered.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Maritime Group, LLC; and Don's Trucking LLC.

     Your Committee finds that vehicles transporting asphalt or other loads of high temperature may be a hazard to motorists traveling on highways.  However, testimony indicated that these high temperature loads, including asphalt, are typically heavy and sticky and do not easily blow off trucks into the road.  In addition, putting a tarp or other cover on top of high temperature loads will melt the material and produce toxic fumes.  Therefore, your Committee further finds that an exception to covering certain truck loads is warranted and leaving it to the discretion of the vehicle operator as to whether there is a likelihood of the material blowing away while being transported on any highway is a reasonable solution.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Energy that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 113, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair