CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 206-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 3158

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

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. 3158, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

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) Establish the electric bicycle and electric moped rebate program and subaccount to encourage the purchase and use of electric bicycles and electric mopeds; and

(2) Allocate a portion of the barrel tax to fund the rebate program.

Your Committee on Conference finds that electric bicycles and electric mopeds support the Department of Transportation's zero emissions goals while also lowering the cost of transportation for drivers, and reduces the State's reliance on fossil fuels. However, the initial cost of purchasing an electric vehicle can be prohibitive. This measure creates a subsidy to help encourage the purchase and use of electric bicycles and electric mopeds.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Setting the rebate at the lower of twenty percent of the retail cost or $500, and clarifying that no individual shall receive more than $500 rebate per fiscal year;

(2) Setting the total amount of rebates authorized to be issued each year at $700,000;

(3) Authorizing the Department of Transportation to allow for applicants to apply for the rebate and receive future rebates if there are not sufficient funds to pay that rebate during the fiscal year in which the rebate was applied;

(4) Adding additional requirements of what information the Department of Transportation must collect for rebate eligibility;

(5) Clarifying that the rebates are only available for qualified new electric bicycles and new electric mopeds purchased at a retail store after July 1, 2022;

(6) Clarifying eligibility requirements for the rebate program;

(7) Removing the barrel tax allocation;

(8) Inserting an appropriation of $2,100,000 for the rebate program;

(9) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

    (10) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2022; and

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

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. 3158, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3158, S.D. 2, 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

____________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO Co-Chair	____________________________ CHRIS LEE Chair
____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN Co-Chair	____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE Co-Chair