STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3168

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1805

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education, Transportation and Energy, and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1805, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the University of Hawai‘i community colleges to:

(A) Establish energy systems and technology training courses for county officers and employees responsible for permitting, inspecting, licensing, and approving construction projects;

(B) Establish an advisory committee of industry stakeholders who are familiar with the job duties performed by county officers and employees who permit, inspect, license, approve, or otherwise work with energy systems technology; and

(C) Submit a report to the Legislature describing the progress made in establishing energy systems and technology training courses for county officers and employees prior to the Regular Session of 2019; and

(2) Appropriate funds for energy systems and technology training for county officers and employees responsible for permitting, inspecting, licensing, and approving construction projects.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; one member of the Hawai‘i County Council; Ulupono Initiative; O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; 350Hawaii.org; and one individual.

Your Committees find that the State's ambitious clean energy goals, along with advances in energy technology, have created incentives for the adoption of new energy systems technologies and equipment, including distributed electrical systems such as solar panels and energy storage. However, the increase in the adoption of these new energy systems technologies and equipment has placed additional burdens on some county officers and employees. County officers and employees responsible for permitting, inspecting, licensing, and approving projects, including officers and employees at county public works departments, planning and permitting departments, and fire departments, must now remain constantly informed about new technology in the energy sector. This measure ensures that these county officers and employees are provided with the proper training as the State's energy issues become more complex and challenging.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an appropriation amount of $130,000 for energy systems and technology training for county officers and employees responsible for permitting, inspecting, licensing, and approving construction projects.

Your Committees note the importance of including individuals who are familiar with building codes and representatives of the fire departments on the advisory committee of industry stakeholders established by this measure to ensure that the implementation of new and existing energy systems and technology are in compliance with international, national, state, and county standards and ask that your Committee on Ways and Means consider adding such representatives to the advisory committee should it choose to hear this measure.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education, Transportation and Energy, and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1805, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1805, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education, Transportation and Energy, and Labor,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair	________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair
	________________________________ JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair