STAND. COM. REP. NO. 954

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1078

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 S.B. No. 1078, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require that operators of low-speed electric bicycles be at least fifteen years of age and to subject the use of low-speed electric bicycles to various bicycle laws.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Bicycling League, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the law is currently unclear with regard to the regulation of low-speed electric bicycles. This measure will clarify that low-speed electric bicycles are subject to the same laws as bicycles, and establish the minimum age of a low-speed electric bicycle operator.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the amendments made by the measure do not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before the effective date; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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 S.B. No. 1078, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1078, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair