STAND. COM. REP. NO. 480-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1413

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1413, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize a county director of finance to require payment of outstanding charges and fines relating to the disposition of an abandoned vehicle before issuing a certificate of registration or completing a transfer of ownership, except under certain circumstances; and

(2) Require a county director of finance to notify the appropriate county examiner of drivers of the individuals who have outstanding charges and fines owed to the county relating to the disposition of an abandoned vehicle for the purposes of suspending, revoking, or prohibiting the renewal of their driver's licenses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Council of Mayors, one member of the Hawaii County Council, one member of the Kauai County Council, County of Maui Department of Environmental Management, Finance Department of the County of Kauai, County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management, Nanawale Community Association Board of Directors, and ten individuals.

Your Committee finds that abandoned vehicles on public streets create widespread environmental issues and unsafe and unhealthy conditions for residents of the State. Your Committee further finds that additional deterrence mechanisms are needed to bolster counties' efforts to address this problem. This measure provides an additional deterrence mechanism through the placement of stops on vehicle registrations and transfers and through the suspension, revocation, or denial of renewal of driver's licenses.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1413, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair