STAND. COM. REP. NO. 665-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2590

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2590, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a two-year autonomous vehicle testing program within the Department of Transportation.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Ulupono Initiative, 350Hawaii, Big Island EV Association, Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association, and nine individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and Hawaii Automobile Dealers' Association.

Your Committees find that the automotive industry is rapidly evolving. Today's vehicles are more advanced than ever and feature remarkable capabilities, all with the primary goal of passenger safety and saving lives. According to the United States Department of Transportation, more than thirty-seven thousand lives were lost on United State roadways in 2017, with human error accounting for more than ninety-five percent of those fatalities. These numbers underscore the importance for automobile manufacturers to develop life-saving autonomous vehicle technologies. Furthermore, autonomous vehicles increase transportation options, allowing individuals to navigate and participate more meaningfully in their communities.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the maximum speed limit where an autonomous vehicle may be tested on any public road from thirty‑five miles per hour to a blank number; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Consumer Protection & Commerce that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2590, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Finance, in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2590, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________ ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair

____________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair