STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1378

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1526

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 1526, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY TESTING LABORATORY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to extend the lapse date for funds appropriated out of the Drug and Alcohol Toxicology Testing Laboratory Special Fund for the establishment and maintenance of a drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Department of Health; Department of Law Enforcement; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui; Hawaiʻi Police Department; Honolulu Police Department; and Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Your Committee finds that impaired driving remains a serious threat to public safety, with a significant percentage of traffic fatalities involving alcohol or drugs. Currently, the State relies on out-of-state laboratories for toxicology testing, which can delay investigations and increase prosecution costs. Establishing an in-state drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory will enhance the efficiency and reliability of forensic testing, providing law enforcement and the Judiciary with timely and accurate results. This measure will extend the lapse date for funds previously appropriated and extend the timeline for the establishment of an in-state testing laboratory.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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 S.B. No. 1526, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1526, S.D. 2, 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