STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3454

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2590

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2590, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for an autonomous vehicle testing pilot program within the Department of Transportation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Commission; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Hawaii Auto Dealers' Association; Climate Protectors Coalition; Ulupono Initiative; SanHi Government Strategies, LLLP; 350Hawaii; and eight individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Self-Driver Coalition for Safer Streets and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from TechNet.

Your Committee finds autonomous vehicles have the potential to decrease noise, pollution, congestion, and auto‑related deaths throughout the State. Autonomous vehicles could also revolutionize how people with disabilities participate in their communities. This measure authorizes the Department of Transportation to oversee an autonomous vehicle testing pilot program.

Your Committee finds that in order to attract the autonomous vehicle industry to Hawaii, the program must be less restrictive in order to provide the program sufficient time to show progress. Your Committee clarifies that the autonomous vehicle testing pilot program is not intended to be just a two‑year program, but that in two years, the Department of Transportation shall submit to the Legislature its report on the pilot program. As such, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the sunset date of June 30, 2022;

(2) Removing the restriction that autonomous vehicles can only be tested on roads which have a particular speed limit; and

(3) Removing the restriction that autonomous vehicles can only be tested on roads under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2590, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2590, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair