STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1038-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   S.B. No. 2747

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 2747, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE PARKING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist Hawaii in addressing its energy needs and promote the increased use of electric vehicles by simplifying and clarifying current requirements for electric vehicle parking.  Among other things, this measure:

     (1)  Clarifies the parking space requirements for electric vehicle parking in parking lots with over 100 parking spaces;

     (2)  Stipulates that parking spaces designated for electric vehicles shall not displace or reduce accessible stalls required by the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines; and

     (3)  Delays, for one year, the implementation of warnings given to non-electric vehicles parked in stalls reserved for electric vehicles.

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Outrigger Hotels Hawaii testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The Department of Design and Construction of the City and County of Honolulu testified in opposition to this measure.  The Disability and Communication Access Board, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, and Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers provided comments.

     Hawaii relies primarily on the consumption of imported oil to satisfy its energy needs.  Much of this imported oil is used for the production of gasoline to fuel internal combustion engines.  With over one million registered motor vehicles on Hawaii's roadways, the consumption of gasoline can be enormous.

     One possible mechanism to reduce the consumption of petroleum products is to promote the use of newer technologies in everyday life.  Providing parking incentives such as reserved parking for electric vehicles in parking structures or parking facilities is one way to try to foster the rapid development of electric vehicle use in Hawaii.  However, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Hawaii's current electric vehicle parking law has caused confusion among the public.  This measure addresses this issue.

     However, your Committee finds that a slightly better approach to addressing this issue is contained in H.B. No. 2485, H.D. 3, which passed the House of Representatives.  As such, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and replacing them with language contained in H.B. No. 2485, H.D. 3.  As amended, this measure, among other things:

     (1)  Requires at least one parking space to be equipped with an electric vehicle charging system and designated for the exclusive use of electric vehicles in places of public accommodation with at least 100 parking spaces;

     (2)  Allows the space for the electric vehicle to be located anywhere in the parking structure or lot;

     (3)  Allows owners of multiple parking facilities within the State to designate and electrify fewer parking spaces than required in one or more of their owned properties; provided that the scheduled requirement is met for the total number of aggregate spaces on all of their owned properties;

     (4)  Repeals mandatory designated space increases that would have taken effect once registered electric vehicles in the State numbered at least 5,000;

     (5)  Specifies that an electric vehicle means a "neighborhood electric vehicle" as defined in the Hawaii Highway Safety Act or a vehicle that has at least four wheels and draws propulsion energy from a rechargeable battery with at least four kilowatt hours of energy storage capacity;

     (6)  Defines "electric vehicle charging system" and "place of public accommodation";

     (7)  Delays, for one year, the implementation of warnings given to non-electric vehicles parked in stalls reserved for electric vehicles; and

     (8)  Specifies that this measure shall take effect on July 1, 2030.

     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 S.B. No. 2747, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2747, S.D. 1, 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