STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1059

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1285

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1285, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Increase safety and reduce deaths on the State's roadways due to alcohol consumption by establishing a new traffic infraction for those driving with a blood alcohol concentration between .05 grams and .079 grams; and

(2) Require the Department of the Attorney General to report certain information on cases relating to certain offenses related to impaired driving.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the National Transportation Safety Board, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi County Police Department, one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council, Kalihi Palama Neighborhood Board No. 15, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Metropolitan Planning Organization, Mala Hanai Pua LLC, SparksInitiatives, Hale Opio Kauai and Hoʻokele Coalition, Hawaiʻi Alcohol Policy Alliance, Maikai Cleaning Services LLC, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that alcohol-impaired driving is the deadliest and most costly risk on the nation's roadways, causing about thirty-seven deaths daily. Your Committee further finds that studies, including those by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, show that lowering the blood alcohol concentration limit is a proven, effective measure to reduce alcohol-related fatalities. This measure will enhance public safety and promote responsible drinking and more conscientious behaviors, such as the use of designated drivers.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language to establish the process to automatically suspend the license of a person arrested for driving under the influence;

(2) Inserting language that allows a person whose license is automatically suspended for driving under the influence to contest the suspension;

(3) Amending the process for administrative review of a suspended license by the Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office;

(4) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(5) Inserting an effective date of April 23, 2057, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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. 1285, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1285, S.D. 2.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair