STAND. COM. REP. NO. 865

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 56

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 56, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AUDIBLE VEHICLE REVERSE WARNING SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the use of broadband audible reverse warning systems (back-up beepers) on state and county-owned vehicles purchased on or after January 1, 2026; and

(2) Authorize the Director of Transportation to provide an exemption in the event broadband sirens are unavailable.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation.

Your Committee finds that studies have determined that a traditional tonal back-up beeper is inefficient in alerting people to a reversing vehicle. Your Committee further finds that the broadband sound is both better in preventing fatalities and reducing noise pollution in the surrounding area because the broadband sound system allows for a variety of sounds and the focusing of the alarm's sound. This measure will help protect the State's residents from disruptive noise pollution and utilize safer vehicular reversing practices by requiring the use of broadband reversing alarms instead of tonal alarms.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 56, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 56, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair