STAND. COM. REP. NO.  12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 1016

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1016 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION ENERGY INITIATIVES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to increase Hawaii's energy efficiency and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by, among other things:

     (1)  Authorizing the Department of Transportation to adopt rules for the registration of, and issuance of license plates for, electric vehicles;

     (2)  Exempting electric vehicles with proper license plates from parking fees charged by governmental entities, including fees charged by parking meters, except when the vehicle is parked at a charging station;

     (3)  Extending the time period by which parking facilities must designate one percent of their public parking spaces for the exclusive use of electric vehicles from December 31, 2011, to July 1, 2012;

     (4)  Establishing a definition of an "electric vehicle charging system"; and

     (5)  Postponing from January 1, 2012, to January 1, 2013, the date upon which persons who park in a stall reserved for an electric vehicle will begin to receive warnings.

     The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Maui Electric Company, Ltd., Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc., Sierra Club-Hawai'i Chapter, and Blue Planet Foundation testified in support of this bill.  Better Place Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.

     As one of the most fossil fuel dependent states in the nation, Hawaii is currently working to meet clean and renewable energy goals in the very near future.  One way of achieving this goal is to increase consumer acceptance of electric vehicles.  Electric vehicles produce less greenhouse gas emissions than comparable gas powered vehicles and their use will reduce fossil fuel consumption.  Benefits such as free parking for these types of vehicles will help to increase their use and acceptance.

     However, your Committee understands that the definition of an electric vehicle charging system contained in this measure must be modified to meet official standards to ensure public safety.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by amending the definition of an electric vehicle charging system to require such systems to meet the recognized standards established by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), including SAE standard J1772.

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments have also been made for 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. 1016, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1016, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection.

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

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair