STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1100

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 715

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 715, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the use of alternative means of transportation by including low-speed bicycles powered by an electric motor in the definition of "bicycle", thereby allowing the use of low-speed electric bicycles on Hawaii's streets, sidewalks, and multi-use paths.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Ebikes Hawaii, Bicycle Product Suppliers Association, PeopleForBikes, and two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that electric bicycles are becoming an increasingly important form of transportation and a more significant component of the bicycle industry.  This measure is intended to statutorily recognize that electric bicycles are a type of bicycle and subject to the same laws.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 715, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 715, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

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

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair