STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3916

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1414

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1414, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make a person who is the registered owner of a vehicle that was deemed abandoned or derelict subject to a tiered fine system.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Association of Counties, Hawaii Council of Mayors, County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management, County of Maui Department of Environmental Management, one member of the Maui County Council, and four individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from two individuals.

Your Committees find that abandoned and derelict vehicles are a widespread problem in the State and create unsafe and unhealthy conditions for Hawai‘i's residents. Your Committees further find that the ease with which a person can abandon a vehicle and the lack of deterrents for doing so contribute to this problem. This measure will deter individuals from abandoning vehicles by making a person who is the registered owner of a vehicle that was deemed abandoned or derelict subject to a tiered fine system.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Setting the fine amount for the third violation at $750;

(2) Setting the fine amount for a fourth or subsequent violation at $1,000;

(3) Removing the time period required for a person to have committed subsequent violations;

(4) Deleting language that would have established a subsection for fifth or subsequent violations; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1414, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1414, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair