STAND. COM. REP. NO. 272

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 696

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 696 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the issuance of distinguishing parking devices, codes, permits, or decals to drivers with a disability that limits their ability to use parking meters or pay stations for purposes of qualifying for limited free parking at paid parking spaces;

(2) Prohibit the unauthorized sale or purchase of disability parking permits;

(3) Clarify the authority of law enforcement officers and commissioned volunteer enforcement officers of the county law enforcement agencies to confiscate valid and invalid disability parking permits in certain circumstances; and

(4) Limit the privilege of parking a vehicle in an on-street metered parking space without payment of parking fees for the first two-and-a-half hours or the maximum time allowed, whichever is longer, to only permittees who are licensed drivers and are not personally able to operate parking meters or pay stations because of a physical disability.

For the purpose of a public hearing on this measure, your Committees circulated a proposed H.B. No. 696, H.D. 1, (Proposed Draft) and notified the public that it would be accepting testimony on this proposal, which amends H.B. No. 696 by deleting the provisions relating to:

(1) The issuance of a distinguishing parking device, code, permit, or decal; and

(2) On-street parking privileges for those with a disability parking permit.

The Honolulu Police Department, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Honolulu County Republican Party, and two individuals testified in support of the Proposed Draft. Two individuals testified in opposition to the Proposed Draft. The Disability and Communication Access Board provided comments.

Your Committees considered the merits of both H.B. No. 696, as received by your Committees, and the Proposed Draft, and upon careful consideration have adopted the Proposed Draft and amended it by:

(1) Amending the definition of "person with a disability" to allow advanced practice registered nurses to make a determination regarding the individual's mobility;

(2) Deleting increases in fines for unauthorized use of a placard or special license plate;

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

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 696, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 696, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness,

______________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair