STAND. COM. REP. NO. 221

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 953

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 953 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the powers of the Governor and Director of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and procedures in preparation for and during a fuel shortage or state of emergency.

The Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, Energy Research Systems, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and an individual submitted testimony in support of the measure. The Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc.; Maui Electric Company, Ltd.; and Par Hawaii submitted testimony in support of the intent of the measure. The Office of Information Practices and Life of the Land offered comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying which documents and data received for the purposes of assessing, preparing for, and during a fuel shortage shall be kept confidential;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2100, to promote further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarify, 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. 953, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 953, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair