CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 157

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 661

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 661, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Grant procurement priority for fuel cell electric vehicles for state and county vehicle purchases; and

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

Your Committee on Conference finds that fuel cell electric vehicles are a viable alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. Your Committee on Conference also finds that increasing the use of more fuel cell electric vehicles will reduce carbon emissions and improve the quality of life in Hawaii. However, under existing law, certain priority considerations and incentives are currently available to battery electric vehicles but not fuel cell electric vehicles. This measure expands the definition of "electric vehicle" to include fuel cell electric vehicles, which will afford more incentives for fuel cell electric vehicles, drastically improve transportation efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions in Hawaii.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by changing its effective date to upon approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 661, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 661, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN Co-Chair	____________________________ LAURA H. THIELEN Chair
____________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO Co-Chair	____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE Co-Chair
____________________________ AARON LING JOHANSON Co-Chair	____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH Co-Chair
____________________________ TY J.K. CULLEN Co-Chair