STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3137

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2003

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Energy, to which was referred H.B. No. 2003, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow a respondent who has a revoked driver's license to operate an employer's vehicle for no more than twelve hours; provided that the respondent's employer provides a sworn statement that the respondent is limited to driving during the specified assigned hours of work.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, Local 1463, IAFF, AFL-CIO; and Hawaii State AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that driving under the influence is a serious offense and there should be serious repercussions for driving under the influence, such as revoking a person's driver's license. However, some employees are required to drive their employer's vehicle for work and could lose their job if they are not allowed to drive a vehicle without an ignition interlock device. To address this issue, the law allows for a special permit for driving a vehicle for work purposes only and limits the amount of driving time to twelve hours per day. Your Committee finds that some employees might need to drive more than twelve hours per day, such as those working multiple shifts, and that the twelve-hour limit could be too restrictive. Because most employers do not allow drinking at work, allowing an employee to drive for work purposes for more than twelve hours per day will allow the employee to remain employed without increasing the likelihood of the employee driving under the influence.

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. 2003, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair