STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2067

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1585

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1585, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a rebate program to promote the installation or upgrading of electric vehicle charging systems.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Public Utilities Commission, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Building Industry Association of Hawaii, Organizing for Action, Our Revolution Hawaii, 350Hawaii.org, Apollo Kauai, Ulupono Initiative, Blue Planet Foundation, Tesla, Building Owners and Managers Association of Hawaii, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric Companies, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that increasing the number of available electric vehicle charging stations is essential to making electric vehicles a viable alternative to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.

Your Committee notes that the Public Utilities Commission has requested $1,250,000 for the program in each year of the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Authorizing the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, subject to legislative approval, to transfer moneys in the energy security special fund to the electric vehicle charging system rebate program special fund and authorizing the electric vehicle charging system rebate program special fund to accept those moneys;

(2) Providing that installation of electric vehicle charging systems for dedicated parking stalls in multi-unit residential buildings may be eligible for the electric vehicle charging system rebate program;

(3) Defining "level two station" to coincide with the definition of "electric vehicle charging system" in section 291-71, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which includes a requirement that the system be designed and installed in compliance with article 625 of the National Electrical Code and does not specify a minimum voltage; and

(4) Adding an unspecified appropriation into the electric vehicle charging system rebate program special fund.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1585, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1585, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair