CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 32

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2015

RE:    H.B. No. 436

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 436, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to promote highway safety by requiring approaching vehicles to slow and change lanes when nearing Sheriff Division vehicles, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency vehicles, Civil Defense vehicles, Department of Transportation Harbors Division vehicles, Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement vehicles, and county emergency management vehicles that are stopped for official duties, by amending the definition of "emergency vehicle" in the statewide traffic code to include these vehicles.

     Public safety and emergency personnel are responsible for the protection and safety of the general public. These individuals often find themselves being placed in harm’s way, especially when involved with incidents on the roadway.  Your Committee on Conference finds that this measure is necessary to increase the safety of these personnel when they are stopped on a roadway conducting official business.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date from January 7, 2059, to upon its approval; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 436, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 436, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair	____________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Co-Chair
____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Co-Chair	____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA, Co-Chair
____________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Co-Chair