STAND. COM. REP. NO. 355

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 803

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 803 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize each county to adopt ordinances to enforce state laws relating to the designation of parking spaces for electric vehicles, including the establishment of penalties;

(2) Require that new electric vehicle charging systems installed pursuant to the electric vehicle charging system requirements be at least Level 2 and internet-capable; and

(3) Clarify that certain enforcement officers may enter private property to enforce electric vehicle parking space violations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Mission Zero Hawaii; Hawaii EV Association; Big Island EV Association; Climate Protectors Hawaii; Ulupono Initiative; Deluxe Hawaiian Vacations; KauaiEV; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; 350Hawaii; Blue Planet Foundation; Tesla, Inc.; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office.

Your Committee finds that zero-emission vehicles, such as electric vehicles, play an integral role in Hawaii's clean energy future. Electric vehicles are much less expensive to power per mile than their gasoline counterparts. With the continued growth of electric vehicle adoption by consumers, this measure ensures that there is the necessary infrastructure to support electric vehicle use.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Increasing the required number of parking spots for electric vehicles for places of public accommodation with at least one hundred parking spaces from one to five;

(2) Specifying that, beginning January 1, 2022, each new electric vehicle charging system installed or placed in service for a place of public accommodation with at least one hundred parking spaces be at least a level 2 charging station that is network-capable;

(3) Requiring that electric vehicle charging systems be maintained in working order;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 803, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 803, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair