HCR352

WHEREAS, the biggest environmental problem in Hawaii is that there are too many cars and no place to park them; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's roadways cannot handle urban sprawl, and traffic gridlock threatens Hawaii's tourist-based economy; and

WHEREAS, bigger cars place additional stress on our parking infrastructure; the old charm of Hawaii is being replaced with traffic jams caused by oversized rent-a-cars in search of parking, and the result is fewer customers are able to access the local business community; and

WHEREAS, over time, heavier oversized rent-a-car fleets contribute to road wear and tear and to bridge failure; and

WHEREAS, energy inefficient roadways and traffic jams contribute to high gas prices; and

WHEREAS, the people of Hawaii are paying the highest gasoline prices in America; and

WHEREAS, the war in the Middle East has put the world's oil supply in danger and will continue to result in higher oil prices after the war is over; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii must be prepared to deal with reduced energy supplies; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that the Governor is strongly urged to develop proposals to reduce gasoline prices in Hawaii by making Hawaii's roads and parking more energy efficient; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is urged to develop proposals that would require rental companies, their partners or subsidiaries, chains, and corporate and franchise ownership arrangements that do business in Hawaii to offer energy efficient fleets that comply with a thirty-five miles per gallon highway corporate average fuel economy standard; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is urged to develop proposals that would establish a special fund into which surcharges levied against companies that cannot or choose not to comply with the thirty-five miles per gallon highway corporate average fuel economy standard would be deposited, and from which the expenses of transitioning Hawaii toward a self-sufficient, clean, renewable energy future would be paid; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is urged to develop proposals on using the special fund to enhance Hawaii's emergency preparedness, such as, to finance fully independent and capable grid-connections with battery backup, integrated solar roofs, and other non-centralized renewable energy improvements for public buildings; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is urged to develop proposals that would authorize the special fund to provide rebates and tax incentives to make the costs of transitioning to renewable energy systems for home owners more affordable; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is urged to develop proposals to ensure that private businesses and electric utilities and their subsidiaries, subcontractors, and partnered contractors will not receive moneys from the special fund and will not be able to certify, approve, or design systems, or determine who gets rebates or incentives from the special fund; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is urged to develop proposals to offer tax incentives or other incentives, such as free vehicle registrations, to rental companies that introduce hybrid fleets comprised of vehicles that exceed the thirty-five miles per gallon highway corporate average fuel economy standard; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to submit findings and recommendations, regarding anticipated impacts of the proposals, including but not limited to the following:

(1) Whether gasoline consumption in the State will be reduced by up to ten per cent;

(2) Whether smaller cars are better for business because smaller cars make it possible for the existing road infrastructure to handle more customers;

(3) Whether the proliferation of used hybrid cars will build a long-term solution to increasing gas prices;

(4) Whether public safety will be served by preparing state and county governments for catastrophic disasters;

(5) Whether various sectors of the local economy, such as taxi services, limousine services, personal tour guide services, tour van services, and bus companies, will be stimulated; and

(6) Whether the proposals should exempt, at least for a five year transition period, small non-franchised, non-subsidiary, non-chain, solely Hawaii owned and operated rent-a-car companies that operate on only one island and rent cut rate or used cars; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the Director of Transportation; and the Director of Taxation.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Fleet Vehicles; Regulations

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	352
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII