STAND. COM. REP. NO. 360

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 798

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 798 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the purchase of any new vehicles powered by internal combustion engines for the State's motor pools beginning January 1, 2022.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Ulupono Initiative, 350Hawaii.org, Americans for Democratic Action, KauaiEV, Mission Zero Hawaii, Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that to meet the State's goal of one hundred percent renewable energy by 2045, it is essential to reduce carbon emissions by beginning the conversion of the State's motor pools to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) as soon as practicable. According to testimony received by your Committee, the conversion will require significant upgrades of state infrastructure to ensure adequate electrical capacity for ZEVs, which requires significant financing. The State operates approximately five thousand vehicles through various agencies, which operate their own motor pools and manage their own expenses to support their respective fleets. Your Committee further finds that the Department of Accounting and General Services' (DAGS) motor pool program is a logical place to facilitate the use of ZEVs statewide.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that all new vehicles purchased for the DAGS' motor pool program rather than the State's motor pools, be ZEVs; and

(2) Requiring DAGS, in coordination with other state agencies, to submit a plan to convert the State's motor pool fleet to ZEVs to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2022.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 798, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 798, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

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SHARON MORIWAKI, Chair