STAND. COM. REP. NO.  21

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 534

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 534 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to create greater awareness of the importance of child safety seats by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition (Coalition) to educate the public about Hawaii's child passenger restraint law;

 

     (2)  Requiring the Coalition to implement a program to subsidize the cost of booster car seats for families meeting certain income limits;

 

     (3)  Requiring the Department of Human Services (DHS) to assist the Coalition to design and implement the subsidy program; and

 

     (4)  Appropriating funds to be expended by DHS for the public awareness campaign and subsidy program.

 

     The Occupational Therapy Association of Hawaii supported this bill with amendments.  DHS provided comments.

 

     DHS stated that while it appreciates the intent of this measure, it does not feel it is the appropriate entity to administer it.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) to work with the Coalition instead of DHS;

 

     (2)  Requiring HPD to issue subsidy vouchers to nonprofit organizations operating child safety seat programs; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 534, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 534, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Transportation.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Housing,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair