STAND. COM. REP. NO. 806

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 926

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. 926 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PEDESTRIANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide pedestrians with greater freedom by allowing them to cross the street when a reasonably careful pedestrian would determine it is safe to do so.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawai‘i Public Health Institute and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Transportation, Honolulu Police Department, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that existing laws relating to pedestrians are needlessly restrictive and have a disproportionate impact on people who do not drive and who primarily rely upon walking as a means of transportation. Additionally, in many situations, the perception and judgment of pedestrians can be more effective in mitigating injuries than traffic lights or street markings. Your Committee believes that pedestrians should be trusted to cross the street when the absence of oncoming traffic makes it reasonably safe to cross. This measure will provide pedestrians with greater freedom to make determinations about the safety conditions of vehicular traffic.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of March 22, 2075, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 926, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 926, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair