STAND. COM. REP. NO. 360-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2499

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2499 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify laws regarding the use of electric bicycles in Hawaii by:

(1) Clarifying the definition of "bicycle" for purposes of county vehicular taxes, highway safety laws, and the Statewide Traffic Code by specifying that a low-speed electric bicycle, as defined under federal law, shall be considered a bicycle in Hawaii;

(2) Specifically excluding low-speed electric bicycles from being defined as a moped, motor vehicle, or vehicle;

(3) Prohibiting low-speed electric bicycles from being operated on the sidewalk;

(4) Prohibiting the defacing of serial numbers or other identification marks on a low-speed electric bicycle; and

(5) Requiring persons selling new low-speed electric bicycles as a business to keep sales records for four years.

The Maui Police Department, Hawaii Bicycling League, Maui Bicycle League, RideSmart Maui, Drybar, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. Three concerned individuals testified in opposition to this measure. The Department of Transportation provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion.

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. 2499, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2499, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair