STAND. COM. REP. NO. 77

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 161

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 161 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the director of finance of a county to require payment of outstanding charges owed to the county for the towing, removal, or disposal of an abandoned or derelict vehicle before issuing a motor vehicle certificate of registration.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Association of Counties and one member of Kauai County Council. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Enterprise Holdings.

Your Committee finds that the number of abandoned and derelict vehicles on the streets throughout the State remains a major issue. Your Committee further finds that the counties are often burdened with fronting the cost of towing and disposing abandoned and derelict vehicles, with no means to recoup these costs. Requiring the costs of towing and disposal to be paid as a condition precedent to registration of a vehicle will allow the counties to recoup these costs, thereby keeping the streets free from abandoned and derelict vehicles and not at the expense of taxpayers.

Your Committee notes that there are instances when a vehicle is stolen or taken without the permission or authorization of the registered owner. Your Committee recognizes that this measure would place an unwarranted burden on the registered owner when they are a victim of a crime and not at fault.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Providing that a registered owner of a motor vehicle shall not be fined if the abandoned or derelict vehicle was stolen or taken without permission or authorization; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 161, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 161, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair