STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1221-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2308

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 2308, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SPEEDING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish additional penalties for persons convicted of speeding in a school zone.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Department of Education; Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender.

Your Committee finds that despite the existence of speed reduction laws in school zones, nationwide approximately twenty-five thousand students are injured in a school zone-related accident each year. Your Committee further finds that the most common contributing factors to school zone-related accidents are speed and distracted drivers. Your Committee believes that increasing penalties for those convicted of speeding in a school zone will help deter motorists from committing future violations; however your Committee believes the Court should have discretion in whether to impose the increased penalties.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Permitting, rather than requiring, the imposition of additional penalties for persons convicted of speeding in a school zone; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 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 S.B. No. 2308, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2308, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair