STAND. COM. REP. NO. 296

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 480

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. 480 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the definitions of "special interest vehicle," "street rod replica vehicle," and "street rod vehicle," for purposes of the Hawaii Highway Safety Act, to be based on the age of the vehicle or the parts used, rather than a certain year.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Finance Department of the County of Hawai‘i, one member of the Hawai‘i County Council, and fifteen individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Transportation.

Your Committee finds that, under the Hawaii Highway Safety Act, street rod replica vehicles and street rod vehicles are defined as vehicles, or vehicles with components, manufactured before 1968, or vehicles made to resemble such vehicles. However, your Committee further finds that the year of demarcation has not been adjusted since 2004. This measure will allow for more recent vehicles to be treated as street rod replica vehicles and street rod vehicles without continued legislative adjustment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring vehicles to meet the safety standards that were in effect at the time of manufacture;

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

(3) 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. 480, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 480, 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