STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3743

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2446

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2446, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Examiner of Drivers to suspend the driver's license of a person who violates certain regulations relating to the use of disability parking permits;

(2) Authorize each county to enact ordinances to enforce the design and construction requirements for the provision of accessible parking spaces, including the establishment of penalties for failure to comply with the ordinances;

(3) Authorize officials appointed by a county to enter the property of places of public accommodation to enforce violations of the county ordinances; and

(4) Require the court to distribute fifty percent of any fine imposed on a person who violates certain regulations for the use of disability parking permits to the law enforcement agency that issued the citation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability and Communication Access Board, one member of the Kauaʻi County Council, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, and six individuals.

Your Committee finds that parking spaces for individuals with mobility disabilities provide greater accessibility to various establishments statewide. However, improper usage of disability parking placards may prevent qualified individuals from traveling to and accessing various facilities, creating additional mobility challenges. Therefore, this measure ensures appropriate usage of disability parking placards and enforcement to promote accessibility for all individuals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of April 14, 2112, to encourage further discussion.

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 H.B. No. 2446, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2446, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair