STAND. COM. REP. NO.  884

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 738

      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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 738, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote sustainable transportation by:

     (1)  Granting procurement priority to fuel cell electric vehicles in state and county vehicle purchases; and

     (2)  Amending the definition of "electric vehicles" to include fuel cell electric vehicles for purposes of parking exemptions, high occupancy vehicle lane use, registration, and required parking spaces in places of public accommodation.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Department of Transportation, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Hawaii Energy Policy Forum, Hawaii Automobile Dealers' Association, and several individuals supported this measure.  The State Procurement Office provided comments.

     Your Committee had concerns that opening up the exemptions for electric vehicles to fuel cell vehicles could exacerbate the lack of availability of amenities such as parking spaces for electric vehicles.  However, given the broad support for this measure from different sectors and stakeholders, your Committee feels that this legislation will enhance renewable transportation options in the future without any detrimental side-effects.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 738, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair