STAND. COM. REP. NO. 731

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 214

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 214, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC TRANSIT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the offense of interference with the operation of a public transit vehicle.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board and Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that many people rely on accessible public transit to participate in education, employment, health care, housing, and community life. Damage to accessible public transit vehicles may force transit agencies to take a vehicle out of service. This measure will maintain public transit services for everyone by protecting public transit vehicles from intentional damage.

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. 214, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair