HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2417

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSE REVOCATION.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 291E-31, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§291E-31  Notice of administrative revocation; effect.  As used in this part, the notice of administrative revocation:

     (1)  Establishes that the respondent's license and privilege to operate a vehicle in the State or on or in the waters of the State shall be terminated:

          (A)  Thirty days after the date the notice of administrative revocation is issued in the case of an alcohol related offense;

          (B)  Forty-four days after the date the notice of administrative revocation is issued in the case of a drug related offense; or

          (C)  [Such] If the respondent requests an administrative hearing, then at such later date as is established by the director under section 291E-38,

          [if] unless the director [administratively revokes the respondent's license and privilege;] rescinds the administrative revocation;

     (2)  Establishes the date on which administrative revocation proceedings against the respondent were initiated;

     (3)  Serves as a temporary permit, if applicable, to operate a vehicle as provided in section 291E-33; and

     (4)  Notifies the respondent that the respondent shall obtain an ignition interlock permit and keep an ignition interlock device installed and operating in any vehicle the respondent operates during the revocation period if the respondent had a valid license at the time of the arrest."

     SECTION 2.  Section 291E-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (c) to (i) to read as follows:

     "(c)  The notice shall provide, at a minimum, the following information relating to the administrative review:

     (1)  That the review is automatic;

     (2)  That the respondent, within three days of the issuance of the notice of administrative revocation in the case of an alcohol related offense and within seventeen days of the issuance of the notice of administrative revocation in the case of a drug related offense, may submit written information demonstrating why the respondent's license and privilege to operate a vehicle should not be administratively revoked;

     (3)  The address [or], location, or electronic mailing address where the respondent may submit the information;

     (4)  That the respondent is not entitled to be present or represented at the administrative review; and

     (5)  That the administrative review decision shall be mailed to the respondent:

          (A)  No later than eight days after the date of the issuance of the notice of administrative revocation in the case of an alcohol related offense; and

          (B)  No later than twenty-two days after the date of the issuance of the notice of administrative revocation in the case of a drug related offense.

     (d)  The notice shall state that, if [the respondent's license and privilege to operate a vehicle is not administratively revoked] after the review, the director rescinds the administrative revocation, the respondent's license shall be returned, unless a subsequent alcohol or drug enforcement contact has occurred, along with a certified statement that the administrative revocation proceedings have been terminated.

     (e)  The notice shall state that, if the administrative review affirms the revocation of the respondent's license and privilege to operate a vehicle [is administratively revoked after the review], a review decision shall be mailed to the respondent, or to the parent or guardian of the respondent if the respondent is under the age of eighteen, that shall contain, at a minimum, the following information:

     (1)  The reasons why revocation of the respondent's license and privilege to operate a vehicle is [administratively revoked;] affirmed;

     (2)  That the respondent may request the director, within six days of the date the review decision is mailed, to schedule an administrative hearing to review the administrative revocation;

     (3)  That, if the respondent's request for an administrative hearing is received by the director within six days of the date the review decision was mailed, the hearing shall be scheduled to commence:

          (A)  No later than twenty-five days after the date of the issuance of the notice of administrative revocation in the case of an alcohol related offense; and

          (B)  No later than thirty-nine days after the date of the issuance of the notice of administrative revocation in the case of a drug related offense;

     (4)  The procedure to request an administrative hearing;

     (5)  That failure to request an administrative hearing within the time provided shall cause the administrative revocation to [take] remain in effect [for the period and] under the conditions established by the director in the review decision;

     (6)  That the respondent may regain the right to a hearing by requesting the director, within sixty days after the issuance of the notice of administrative revocation, to schedule a hearing;

     (7)  That the director shall schedule the hearing to commence no later than thirty days after the date a request under paragraph (6) is received, but that, except as provided in section 291E-38(j), the temporary permit shall not be extended if the respondent fails to request an administrative hearing within the initial six-day period provided for that purpose;

     (8)  That failure to attend the hearing shall cause the administrative revocation to [take] remain in effect for the period and under the conditions indicated;

     (9)  The duration of the administrative revocation and other conditions that may be imposed, including: referral to the driver's education program for an assessment of the respondent's substance abuse or dependence and the need for treatment; and

    (10)  That the respondent shall obtain an ignition interlock permit in order to operate a vehicle during the revocation period if the respondent had a valid license at the time of the arrest.

     (f)  The notice shall provide, at a minimum, the following information relating to administrative hearings:

     (1)  That the respondent shall have six days from the date the administrative review decision was mailed to request that an administrative hearing be scheduled;

     (2)  That a request for an administrative hearing and payment of a $30 fee, unless waived pursuant to section 291E‑39, shall entitle the respondent to review and copy, prior to the hearing, all documents that were considered at the administrative review, including the arrest report and the sworn statements;

     (3)  That the respondent may be represented by an attorney, submit evidence, give testimony, and present and cross-examine witnesses;

     (4)  That, in cases where the respondent is under the age of eighteen, a parent or guardian must be present; and

     (5)  That a written hearing decision shall be mailed no later than five days after completion of the hearing.

     (g)  The notice shall state that, if the administrative revocation is [reversed] rescinded after the hearing, the respondent's license shall be returned, along with a certified statement that the administrative revocation proceedings have been terminated.

     (h)  The notice shall state that, if the administrative revocation is sustained at the hearing, a written hearing decision shall be mailed to the respondent, or to the parent or guardian of the respondent if the respondent is under the age of eighteen, that shall contain, at a minimum, the following information:

     (1)  The effective date of the administrative revocation;

     (2)  The duration of the administrative revocation;

     (3)  Other conditions that may be imposed by law, including the use of an ignition interlock device; and

     (4)  The right to obtain judicial review.

     (i)  The notice shall state that failure of the respondent, or of the parent or guardian of the respondent if the respondent is under the age of eighteen, to attend a scheduled hearing shall cause the administrative revocation to [take] remain in effect as provided in the administrative review decision."

     SECTION 3.  Section 291E-37, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending subsections (a) and (b) to read:

     "(a)  The director shall automatically review the issuance of a notice of administrative revocation and shall issue a written review decision [administratively revoking] affirming administrative revocation of the license and privilege to operate a vehicle or rescinding the notice of administrative revocation.  The written review decision shall be mailed to the respondent, or to the parent or guardian of the respondent if the respondent is under the age of eighteen, no later than:

     (1)  Fourteen days after the date the notice was issued in a case involving an alcohol related offense; or

     (2)  Twenty-eight days after the date the notice was issued in a case involving a drug related offense.

     (b)  The respondent shall have the opportunity to demonstrate in writing why the respondent's license and privilege to operate a vehicle should not be administratively revoked and, within three days of receiving the notice of administrative revocation, as provided in section 291E-33, shall submit any written information[, either] by mail, electronic mail, or in person, to the director's office or to any office or address designated by the director for that purpose."

     2.  By amending subsection (d) to read:

     "(d)  The director shall [administratively revoke] affirm the administrative revocation of the respondent's license and privilege to operate a vehicle if the director determines that:

     (1)  There existed reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle, the vehicle was stopped at an intoxicant control roadblock established and operated in compliance with sections 291E-19 and 291E-20, or the person was tested pursuant to section 291E-21;

     (2)  There existed probable cause to believe that the respondent operated the vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant; and

     (3)  The evidence proves by a preponderance that:

          (A)  The respondent operated the vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant; or

          (B)  The respondent operated the vehicle and refused to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test after being informed:

              (i)  That the person may refuse to submit to testing in compliance with section 291E-11; and

             (ii)  Of the sanctions of this part and then asked if the person still refuses to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test, in compliance with the requirements of section 291E-15."

     3.  By amending subsections (f) and (g) to read:

     "(f)  If the director [administratively revokes] affirms the administrative revocation of the respondent's license and privilege to operate a vehicle, the director shall mail a written review decision to the respondent, or to the parent or guardian of the respondent if the respondent is under the age of eighteen.  The written review decision shall:

     (1)  State the reasons for the administrative revocation;

     (2)  Indicate that the respondent has six days from the date the written review decision is mailed to request an administrative hearing to [review] contest the director's written review decision;

     (3)  Explain the procedure by which to request an administrative hearing;

     (4)  Be accompanied by a form, postage prepaid, that the respondent may fill out and mail in order to request an administrative hearing;

     (5)  Inform the respondent of the right to review and copy all documents considered at the review, including the arrest report and the sworn statements of law enforcement officers or other persons, prior to the hearing; and

     (6)  State that the respondent may be represented by counsel at the hearing, submit evidence, give testimony, and present and cross-examine witnesses, including the arresting law enforcement officer.

     (g)  Failure of the respondent to request a hearing within the time provided in section 291E-38(a) shall cause the administrative revocation to [take] remain in effect for the period and under the conditions provided in the administrative review decision issued by the director under this section.  The respondent may regain the right to an administrative hearing by requesting the director, within sixty days of the issuance of the notice of administrative revocation as provided in section 291E-33, to schedule an administrative hearing.  The administrative hearing shall then be scheduled to commence no later than thirty days after the date the request for hearing is received by the director.  The administrative review decision issued by the director under this section shall explain clearly the consequences of failure to request an administrative hearing and the procedure by which the respondent may regain the right to a hearing."

     SECTION 4.  Section 291E-38, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  If the director [administratively revokes] affirms the administrative revocation of the respondent's license and privilege to operate a vehicle after the administrative review, the respondent may request an administrative hearing to review the administrative review decision within six days of the date the administrative review decision is mailed.  If the request for hearing is received by the director within six days of the date the review decision is mailed, the hearing shall be scheduled to commence no later than:

     (1)  Twenty-five days from the date the notice of administrative revocation was issued in a case involving an alcohol related offense; or

     (2)  Thirty-nine days from the date the notice of administrative revocation was issued in a case involving a drug related offense.

The director may continue the hearing only as provided in subsection (j)."

     SECTION 5.  Section 291E-41, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Unless an administrative revocation is [reversed] rescinded or the temporary permit is extended by the director, administrative revocation shall become effective on the day specified in the notice of administrative revocation.  Except as provided in section 291E-44.5, no license to operate a vehicle shall be restored under any circumstances during the administrative revocation period.  Upon completion of the administrative revocation period, the respondent may reapply and be reissued a license pursuant to section 291E-45."

     SECTION 6.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.


 


 

Report Title:

Administrative Driver's License Revocation; Notice; Disclosure

 

Description:

Clarifies administrative driver's license revocation procedures by establishing the notice of administrative revocation as official notice of the starting date for administrative driver's license revocation.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.