S.B. 2859 - Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Act

• Amends the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Act to define and expand rights and liabilities between automobile dealers, manufacturers, and distributors in Hawaii

• Establishes a new dispute resolution process for interpreting and enforcing provisions of the Act, with post-decision review rights for the Motor Vehicle Industries Board

• Prohibits manufacturers or distributors from requiring dealers to apply foreign jurisdiction law, prospectively release liability, construct/renovate facilities without exceptions for reasonable improvements, or restrict participation in other vehicle lines

• Creates exceptions allowing manufacturers or distributors to require facility improvements and technological upgrades, enforce allocation systems for specified force majeure events, and establish voluntary settlement agreements with adequate consideration

• Takes effect January 1, 2011, and redefines "relevant market area" as a six-mile radius from dealership location in counties with populations exceeding 500,000 persons