STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3761

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2253

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2253, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE TRAFFIC CODE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve public safety and efficiency by authorizing the chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and county chiefs of police to designate state or county employees or contractors to issue citations for certain traffic violations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, Disability and Communication Access Board, County of Kauai, Kauai Police Department, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that because of the shortage of police officers in every county, enforcement of special no stopping, standing, or parking zones throughout the State is very limited.  Unlike the Airport and Harbor Divisions of the Department of Transportation, the Highway Division does not have an enforcement branch and relies on the county police departments to enforce traffic and safety violations.  This measure will allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the county police chiefs the flexibility to assign other state and county employees and contractors to assist in issuing citations for certain traffic violations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing existing amendments to sections 291C-165 and 291C-167, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and replacing them with a single amendment to section 291C-167 with the same substantive effect;

(2) Removing the savings clause; 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 Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2253, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2253, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair