HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2145

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to electric vehicles.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that taxes on gasoline and diesel fuels are currently one of the main means of funding the repair and maintenance of state and county roadways in the State.  For example, the owner of a vehicle in the city and county of Honolulu that drives 12,500 miles per year at thirty miles per gallon of fuel will pay approximately $140 in combined state and county fuel taxes.  On the other hand, owners of electric vehicles pay substantially less in taxes than owners of conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles because they do not need to purchase liquid fuel for their vehicles.

     The legislature further finds that as technological advances improve the fuel economy of all motor vehicles, it will be necessary to establish a vehicle miles-traveled tax to replace the liquid fuel tax.  In the interest of fairness, the legislature believes it is appropriate to create an electric vehicle user fee to offset the difference in taxes as an interim measure until a suitable mechanism for collecting a vehicle miles-traveled tax can be implemented.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish an annual electric vehicle user fee.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 249, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§249-    Electric vehicle user fee.  (a)  All electric vehicles in the State shall be subject to a $60 annual user fee.

     (b)  The electric vehicle user fee shall be paid each year together with all other taxes and fees levied by this chapter on a staggered basis as established by each county pursuant to section 286-51 so that the electric vehicle user fee is due and payable at the same time and shall be collected with state and county fees.

     (c)  The electric vehicle user fee shall be deemed delinquent if not paid with the state registration fee and the county registration fee.  The respective counties shall collect this fee and transfer fifty per cent of the moneys collected under this section to the State to be deposited into the state highway fund and fifty per cent of the moneys collected under this section into the "highway fund" established in section 249‑18 to be expended in the county in which the user fees are collected.

     (d)  For the purposes of this section, "electric vehicle" has the same meaning as in section 291-71."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Electric Vehicle User Fee; Highway Fund

 

Description:

Establishes an annual electric vehicle user fee, fifty per cent of which shall be deposited in the state highway fund and fifty per cent of which shall be deposited in the county highway fund.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.