STAND. COM. REP. NO. 710

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 700
                                        S.D. 2




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which
was referred S.B. No. 700, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOW-SPEED VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to enact provisions
regulating neighborhood electric vehicles.

     The City and County of Honolulu's Department of Customer
Services presented testimony in favor of the measure.  The
Electric Vehicle Association of Hawaii and three concerned
citizens, although not present submitted written testimony in
support of the measure.  The Insurance Commissioner, although not
present, submitted written comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that neighborhood electric vehicles
(NEV) may be a viable alternative to the use of cars within
neighborhoods.  The NEV has a maximum speed of twenty-five miles
per hour with minimum noise and pollutant emissions and high
energy efficiency.  Your Committee also finds that establishment
of a NEV and electric vehicle industry in the State would create
high technology employment and business opportunities.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by:

     (1)  Adding language that requires these vehicles to conform
          with the minimum safety equipment requirements as

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 710
                                   Page 2


          adopted in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
          No. 500, Low Speed Vehicles (49 C.F.R. 571.500); and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 700, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and
recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto
as S.B. No. 700, S.D. 2.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Commerce and
                                   Consumer Protection,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

 
a                                                     SB700 SD2