STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3762

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1412

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1412, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ABANDONED VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the counties to provide a minimum distance a vehicle must be moved within a specified timeframe after a vehicle is initially inspected for abandonment to avoid an official classification of abandonment; and

(2) Require that, before a vehicle can be classified as being abandoned, notice be provided that the vehicle must be moved the specified distance within the specified timeframe or be subject to removal.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management, County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management, one member of the Kaua‘i County Council, one member of the Maui County Council, Hawai‘i State Association of Counties, Hawaii Council of Mayors, and eight individuals.

Your Committee finds that abandoned vehicles continue to overrun neighborhoods across the State. The prevalence of abandoned vehicles on public streets has created widespread environmental issues, as well as unsafe and unhealthy conditions for Hawai‘i residents. Your Committee further finds that existing law is silent regarding the distance a vehicle must be moved in order to no longer be classified as abandoned. This loophole can create problems in the disposition of an abandoned vehicle if a vehicle that was once deemed abandoned can no longer be classified as abandoned if it merely moves an inch or two from the location where it was deemed abandoned. This measure will make it clear as to how far a vehicle must be moved and when it must be moved in order to no longer be classified as abandoned.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 30, 2075, to encourage further discussion.

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. 1412, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1412, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair