STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2342

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2342

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 2342 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to change the penalties for violations of certain traffic laws and required motor vehicle insurance minimums.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and Hawaii Association for Justice.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Hawaii Insurers Council; and Turo.

Your Committee finds that traffic fatalities and injuries in Hawaii have increased, with 2022 having a record high of one hundred seventeen traffic fatalities and five hundred seventy serious traffic-related injuries. Your Committee recognizes that these tragic events demonstrate the need for greater safeguards and deterrents to improve street safety and better protect Hawaii's residents. This measure will reduce traffic fatalities and injuries by increasing penalties for individuals who continue to violate traffic laws.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting unspecified insurance and penalty amounts;

(2) Adding language directing the Insurance Commissioner to solicit rate filings from motor vehicle insurers to reflect the amendments by this measure;

(3) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2025; and

(4) 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 Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2342, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2342, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair