STAND. COM. REP. NO.  526

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1161

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1161 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVERS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to conform state law to federal commercial driver licensing laws by prohibiting the court-issuance of a hardship license for commercial driver's type licenses.

 

     The Department of Transportation (DOT) testified in support of this bill.

 

     Currently, drivers are allowed to obtain what are known as "hardship licenses," that authorize an individual to drive for limited work-related purposes.  However, to meet federal regulations, Hawaii's law needs to clarify that "hardship licenses" are not authorized for an individual's commercial driver's license.

 

     Your Committee notes that, according to DOT, failure to meet these requirements could result in the loss of approximately $4,600,000 in federal-aid highway funds for the first year of non-compliance and $9,300,000 per year thereafter, which may impact Hawaii's highway fund.  This bill will address those concerns.

 

 

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1161 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair