Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs and Transportation and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 1710 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Health to adopt rules that would achieve the greatest feasible reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from noncommercial, personal vehicles, and sets the average greenhouse gas emission percentage reduction for new vehicles, commencing with the 2009 model year.

Testimony in support of the measure was provided by the Sierra Club. Testimony in opposition to the measure was received from the Department of Health and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

Your Committees find that reduction of greenhouse gases emitted from noncommercial motor vehicles is necessary to maintain and improve the health of the environment in which Hawaii's citizens live. Your Committees also find that a proactive approach to the problem of greenhouse gases is warranted, and that the measure provides appropriate exclusionary provisions for motor vehicles.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for clarity and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs and Transportation and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1710, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1710, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing.