STAND. COM. REP. NO. 51

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 161
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation and Intergovernmental
Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 161 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PICKUP TRUCKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to gradually increase the age
of minors not allowed to be carried in the bed or load-carrying
area of a pickup truck so that by January 1, 2004, all minors
under the age of eighteen are prohibited.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the
Department of Transportation, Police Department of the City and
County of Honolulu, Hawaii Insurers Council, and Mothers Against
Drunk Driving.  The Hawaii State Department of Health and the
Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition submitted testimony in support
of the intention of this measure with recommendations that the
ban should also extend to adults.

     Currently, minors under the age of thirteen may not be
carried in the bed or load-carrying area of a pickup truck.  The
testimony received by your Committee indicated that passengers,
especially minors, are at increased risk of serious injury and
death when riding in the bed or load-carrying area of trucks.
This measure will help in reducing that risk by applying the ban
to older minors.


 
a                                                     SB161
 
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 51
                                   Page 2


     Upon consideration of all pertinent issues and testimony
presented, your Committee finds that this measure will improve
highway safety for minors and the public in general.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Transportation and Intergovernmental Affairs that is
attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the
intent and purpose of S.B. No. 161 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
                                   and Intergovernmental Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

 
a                                                     SB161