STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1594

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 19

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 19 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE NECESSITY OF VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTIONS IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on the necessity of vehicle safety inspections in the State.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Transportation and Legislative Reference Bureau.

Your Committee finds that manufacturing technology and standard safety features of modern vehicles have developed far beyond the safety requirements of safety inspections that are currently being conducted in the State. Annual safety inspections often do not uncover any material defects or safety concerns but drivers are still required to pay for a safety inspection. Your Committee further finds that other states have eliminated or modified their safety inspections to reflect the advancements made in manufacturing technology.

Your Committee notes the testimony from the Legislative Reference Bureau, stating that the Bureau does not have the expertise with respect to automotive mechanics or accident investigation to conduct the requested study and that the Department of Transportation may be a more appropriate agency to assess the feasibility of eliminating or modifying vehicle safety inspections.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Transportation, instead of the Legislative Reference Bureau, to conduct a study on the necessity of vehicle safety inspections in the State and report to the Legislature;

(2) Amending the title accordingly; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 19, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 19, S.D. 1.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair