STAND. COM. REP. NO. 279

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 704

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 704 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide an exemption for flatbed trucks from registration renewals and initial registrations of motor carrier vehicles when used as marine terminal equipment temporarily moving in or between certain terminals. This measure also adds new terminal locales and roadways to be covered under the exemption.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii Stevedores Inc., and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure seeks to promote operational efficiencies in loading, offloading, and otherwise moving cargo. Your Committee notes, however, the concerns raised by the Department of Transportation about the inclusion of Nimitz Highway, which is a heavily used state highway.

As such, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Limiting the exemption for Nimitz Highway to apply between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and from 6:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.; and

(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

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. 704, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 704, 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,

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair