STAND. COM. REP. NO.  73

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1543

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1543 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY TRAINING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create a program to provide training to state and county employees responsible for permitting, inspecting, licensing, and approving energy systems and related technology.

The International Code Council, Distributed Energy Resources Council of Hawaii, Hawaii Solar Energy Association, and a few individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (Department) opposed this measure.  The Alliance for Solar Choice provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Authorizing, rather than requiring, the Department to establish the energy systems and technology training courses;

     (2)  Authorizing the Department to contract with public or private entities to develop, design, prepare, and conduct the training courses;

     (3)  Appropriating unspecified amounts for the energy systems and technology training; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1543, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1543, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Labor & Public Employment.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair