STAND. COM. REP. NO. 685

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 277

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 277 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the fines for violating motor vehicle insurance requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that there is an increasing number of individuals driving in the State without proper motor vehicle insurance coverage. This poses a threat to not only the individual driving the motor vehicle, but to the other drivers and property owners should the individual get into an accident. Your Committee further finds that the existing penalties for driving without motor vehicle insurance are too low to act as a successful deterrent to driving without proper insurance. This measure will increase the fines for violating motor vehicle insurance requirements, thereby ensuring the safety and welfare of drivers in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 277, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 277, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair