STAND. COM. REP. 2212

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2138

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2138 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AUTO THEFT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create an automobile theft prevention authority to prevent, combat, and reduce car thefts.

Testimony in support of this measure was presented by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Testimony in opposition of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Insurers Council and State Farm.

Your Committees believe that this measure will provide a proactive approach to curbing automobile-theft problems. Specifically, in 2002, Hawaii was ranked twenty-fifth in the nation per capita for automobile thefts. A total of nine thousand nine hundred ten automobiles were reported stolen, and only about fifty-six percent of those were recovered. The automobiles that were not recovered have cost Hawaii residents and insurance companies over $25,000,000.

To combat similar problems in Michigan, an automobile theft prevention authority was created in 1985. Since then, Michigan has had success in controlling and reducing automobile thefts, and twelve other states have enacted similar legislation. As a result of the lower theft rates, states such as Michigan have had success in controlling rising automobile insurance costs. Hawaii needs

similar legislation to curb its car theft rates.

Your Committees also noted in testimony submitted after the hearing that there is a concern regarding this measure. Specifically, the concern is regarding double charges for insured drivers. The measure states that an assessed fee will be charged once for vehicle registration and again for automobile insurance. For uninsured drivers, this fee will be assessed only once. Your Committee noted that the testimony suggests that the fee should be charged only during vehicle registration.

However, because of the late submittal of this testimony, your Committees could not respond to these concerns. However, your Committees recommend that this issue be addressed again before the Ways and Means Committee.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2138 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations,

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CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

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COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair