Bill Text: HI HB1861 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Number Plates.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-04-18 - Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 760). [HB1861 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1861-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1861 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
H.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 2 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO NUMBER PLATES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 249-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) The number plates hereinabove referred to
shall be used upon all vehicles for which a tax has been paid pursuant to
sections 249-1 to 249-13. All [such]
number plates shall:
(1) [Bear] If issued before January 1,
2025, bear the word "Hawaii" along the upper portion of the plate
and the words "Aloha State" along the lower portion of the plate;
(2) If issued on or after January 1, 2025, bear
the word "Hawai'i"
along the upper portion of the plate and the words "Aloha State"
along the lower portion of the plate; provided that both "Hawai'i" and "Aloha
State" may either contain all uppercase or lowercase letters or have the
first letter of each word be uppercase;
[(2)] (3)
Have a distinct contrast between the color of the plate and the numerals
and letters thereon; and
[(3)] (4)
Be of [such] any shape, size, and color, and with [such]
any arrangements of letters and numbers as may, subject to sections
249-1 to 249-13, be determined by the directors of finance of each county
through majority consent.
The numerals on all [such] number
plates shall be [not] no less than three inches in height and the
strokes thereof [not] no less than three-eighths inch in width,
except in the case of motorcycles, in which case the numerals shall [not]
be no less than one inch in height and the strokes thereof [not] no
less than one-eighth inch in width.
The
director of finance of the city and county of Honolulu shall contract annually
on behalf of the counties for the purchase of all number plates, tags, or
emblems required. The council of each
county shall appropriate and cause to be paid over to the party with whom the
director of finance of the city and county of Honolulu shall contract, or to
the director of finance of the city and county of Honolulu as the director may
direct, [such] the sum or sums as the director of finance of the
city and county of Honolulu shall determine to be the county's proportionate
share of the expense of [such] the contract and the charges
connected therewith. The contract shall
be made by the director of finance of the city and county of Honolulu as agent
of the several counties, and the proportionate liability of each county shall
be stated in the contract.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, the contract shall
constitute a valid obligation of each county for its proportionate share."
SECTION 2. Section 249-9.7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By amending its title and subsections (a) and
(b) to read:
"[[]§249-9.7[]] Special
number plates for environmental conservation; authorized. (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the
director of finance shall issue to any registered owner of [a motor] an
electric vehicle, who is a resident of the State and has completed the
application and paid the required fees, special number plates that commemorate
the importance of environmental conservation, for the registered owner's motor
vehicle. The special number
plates shall be granted the same benefits and restrictions granted to any other
electric vehicle special number plates.
(b)
The director of finance of the city and county of Honolulu shall
establish special number plate designs that commemorate the importance of
environmental conservation. The design [shall]:
(1) [Contain] Shall
contain words or images, or both, that indicate that the special number
plate is being issued to commemorate the importance of environmental
conservation;
(2) [Be]
Shall be similar in shape and size to the uniform state number plate
prescribed by law; [and]
(3) [Be] Shall
be readily identifiable and distinguishable under actual traffic
conditions[.]; and
(4) May, but shall not be required to, bear the
words "Aloha State" along the lower portion of the plate.
The director
of finance of the city and county of Honolulu shall consult with the directors
of finance of the counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii; the chiefs of police of
the city and county of Honolulu and the counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii;
and the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources in establishing
the special number plate design, which shall be visually attractive and
highlight Hawaii's environment, native species, or both."
2. By amending subsection (d) to read:
"(d)
Each special number plate shall be securely fastened to the [motor]
electric vehicle in lieu of the uniform state number plate."
3. By
amending subsection (g) to read:
"(g)
The director of finance may revoke all special number plates issued
pursuant to this section if the total number of registered owners of [motor]
electric vehicles that obtain the special number plates is less than one
hundred fifty within three years of issuance of the first special number plate."
4. By amending subsection (i) to read:
"(i)
For the purposes of this section[, unless a different meaning appears
from the context, "special]:
"Special number plate" means a license plate that is not a uniform state number plate, unless a different meaning appears from the context.
"Electric vehicle" shall have the same meaning as the term is defined in section 196-2 and produce zero emissions."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
City and County of Honolulu Mayor's Package; Motor Vehicles; Number Plates; Hawaiian Diacritical Marks; Electric Vehicles
Description:
Requires each number plate issued on or after 1/1/2025 to include an 'okina in the word "Hawai'i". Authorizes the use of all uppercase letters, all lowercase letters, or initial capital letters for the words "Hawai'i" and "Aloha State" in motor vehicle number plates. Limits application of special number plates for environmental conservation to electric vehicles. Specifies that the design for special number plates for environmental conservation does not require the words "Aloha State". (SD2)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
