HB 1993: Deaf; Hearing Impaired; Disability; Motor Vehicle Registration; Law Enforcement

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO DEAF INDIVIDUALS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the dangers associated with a routine traffic stop can increase if a law enforcement officer is not aware that the driver is deaf.  A deaf driver's failure to respond to verbal commands or an officer's misinterpretation of a deaf individual's gestures can lead to undesired outcomes.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to prevent miscommunication between deaf drivers and law enforcement officers by providing law enforcement officers with a notification that a driver is deaf when the officer conducts an electronic check of the motor vehicle's registration.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§286-     Deaf owner; registration.  (a)  Beginning           , upon application by a motor vehicle owner who is deaf, the director of finance of the county where the vehicle is to be operated shall add a designation to the registration of the motor vehicle bearing the international symbol for deafness or a numerical code designating deafness.

     (b)  For the purposes of this section, the impairment of deafness shall be certified by a qualified otolaryngologist or an audiologist licensed under chapter 468E.

     (c)  The deafness designation shall appear when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's information and shall be used to alert the law enforcement officer that the owner of the motor vehicle is deaf.

     (d)  Except as provided by subsection (c), the director of finance of the county where the vehicle is to be operated shall restrict access to the motor vehicle owner's deafness designation, as required by law.

     (e)  For purposes of this section, "deaf" means a person with a hearing loss of a pure tone average of forty-one decibels or greater."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Deaf; Hearing Impaired; Disability; Motor Vehicle Registration; Law Enforcement

Description:

Authorizes deaf motor vehicle owners to register their vehicle as being owned by a deaf individual so that a deafness designation appears when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's information.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to deaf individuals.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the dangers associated with a routine traffic stop can increase if a law enforcement officer is not aware that the driver is deaf.  A deaf driver's failure to respond to verbal commands or an officer's misinterpretation of a deaf individual's gestures can lead to undesired outcomes.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to prevent miscommunication between deaf drivers and law enforcement officers by providing law enforcement officers with a notification that a driver is deaf when the officer conducts an electronic check of the motor vehicle's registration.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§286-     Deaf owner; registration.  (a)  Upon application by a motor vehicle owner who is deaf, the director of finance of the county where the vehicle is to be operated shall add a designation to the registration of the motor vehicle bearing the international symbol for deafness or a numerical code designating deafness.

     (b)  The deafness designation shall appear when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's information and shall be used to alert the law enforcement officer that the owner of the motor vehicle is deaf.

     (c)  Except as provided by subsection (b), the director of finance of the county where the vehicle is to be operated shall restrict access to the vehicle owner's deafness designation, as required by law.

     (d)  For purpose of this section, "deaf" means a person whose average loss in the speech frequencies (500-2000 Hertz) in the better ear is eighty-two decibels, A.S.A., or worse.  The impairment of deafness shall be:

     (1)  Certified by a qualified otolaryngologist or an audiologist licensed under chapter 468E; or

     (2)  Demonstrated by presenting a copy of the individual's most recent filed income tax forms as referenced in the definition of the term "deaf" under section 235‑1."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Deaf; Hearing Impaired; Disability; Motor Vehicle Registration; Law Enforcement

Description:

Authorizes deaf motor vehicle owners to register their vehicle as being owned by a deaf individual so that a deafness designation appears when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's information.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  436-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 1993

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1993 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEAF INDIVIDUALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize deaf motor vehicle owners to register their vehicle as being owned by a deaf individual so that a deafness designation appears when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's information.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center and five individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Customer Services for the City and County of Honolulu.

     Your Committee finds that encounters between law enforcement officers and drivers who are deaf can become unnecessarily tense or dangerous when officers are unaware of a hearing impairment, as a driver's inability to hear or promptly respond to verbal instructions may be misconstrued as noncompliance.  Enabling a voluntary designation on a motor vehicle registration that alerts officers during an electronic inquiry can help facilitate appropriate communication and improve safety outcomes.  By establishing this designation while limiting access to protect personal information, this measure enhances public safety and promotes more effective interactions between law enforcement and deaf residents.

     Your Committee notes that recent legislation in New Jersey proposed a similar idea, which would add a designation on a motor vehicle's registration information indicating that the registrant is deaf.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Delaying the implementation of this measure by inserting an unspecified start date to allow adequate time to initiate efforts by state and county agencies;

     (2)  Deleting provisions that would have required the use of income tax forms to verify a hearing disability;

     (3)  Clarifying the definition for "deaf";

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1993, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1993, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,