STAND. COM. REP. NO. 704

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1231

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1231 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the State to prioritize the installation of photo red light imaging detector systems in school zones if the State establishes a photo red light imaging detector system; and

(2) Require proceeds of fines collected for disregarding a steady red signal pursuant to a photo red light imaging detector system installed in a school zone to be deposited into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Hawai‘i Bicycling League; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary and one individual.

Your Committee finds that by prioritizing the installation of these photo red light imaging detector systems in school zones and dedicating the resulting revenue to student safety initiatives, this measure strengthens efforts to protect children traveling to and from school.

Your Committee notes that a special fund is required under existing law to be self-sustaining and not meant to generate revenue. Your Committee will continue to work with pertinent stakeholders regarding this issue as this measure moves through the legislative process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that an unspecified percentage of fines collected under this measure may be deposited into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund and inserting an unspecified maximum amount that may be deposited in the Special Fund each year;

(2) Authorizing, rather than requiring, priority to be given to installing photo red light imaging detector systems in school zones;

(3) Requiring the Department of Transportation to consult with the Department of Education in determining which school zones to install a photo red light imaging detector system;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) 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. 1231, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1231, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

DARIUS KILA, Chair