STAND. COM. REP. NO. 528

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 4

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 4 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require all front and back seat passengers to be restrained by a seat belt assembly or child passenger restraint while the motor vehicle is being operated upon any public highway.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Transportation; Police Department, City and County of Honolulu; Police Department, County of Maui; Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaii; State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company; and eight individuals.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that there is a need for all motor vehicle occupants to be restrained by a seat belt or child passenger restraint while riding in a motor vehicle being operated on any public roadway.  Existing law requires passengers up to age seventeen to wear seat belts in the back seat.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belt restraints for all occupants increase the safety of all motor vehicle occupants by as much as forty-five percent.  Seat belts are one of the most effective safety features and have saved the lives of thousands of motor vehicle occupants.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 4 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair