THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2955

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and environment of Hawaii.  The potential adverse impacts of climate change include the exacerbation of air-quality problems, a reduction in the quality and supply of water, a rise in sea levels resulting in the displacement of coastal businesses and residences, damage to marine ecosystems and the natural environment, and an increase in incidents of infectious diseases, asthma, and other human health-related problems.

     The State has committed to eliminating imported fuels from the electricity and ground transportation sectors and has also committed to abiding by the Paris Climate Accord's goal to limit the amount of global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius.  The legislature finds that meeting the State's clean energy goals and commitments necessitates the rapid transition to vehicles that utilize local, renewable energy sources.

     The legislature further finds that rental motor vehicles represent the largest passenger vehicle fleets in Hawaii and are responsible for a significant amount of carbon emissions.  Incorporating large numbers of zero-emission vehicles into rental motor vehicle fleets would significantly reduce carbon emissions, increase the number of zero-emission vehicles entering the secondary market, making them more affordable to more Hawaii residents, and demonstrate to all who visit the State that Hawaii is a leader in clean energy and sustainable transportation.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Set requirements for rental motor vehicle lessors operating in Hawaii, with more than two hundred light duty passenger vehicles, to plan for incorporating zero-emission vehicles in the lessors' fleets;

     (2)  Require each rental motor vehicle lessor operating in Hawaii to report to the director of commerce and consumer affairs, the make, model, license plate number, and fuel type of each rental motor vehicle in its fleet; and

     (3)  Establish a task force to develop a plan for incorporating zero-emission vehicles into the fleets of rental motor vehicle lessors pursuant to the schedule established by this Act.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 437D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§437D-    Zero-emission vehicles.  (a)  Each lessor in the State shall plan to incorporate zero-emission vehicles into the lessor's fleet according to the following schedule:

     (1)  No less than ten per cent by July 1, 2026;

     (2)  No less than twenty-five per cent by July 1, 2028; and

     (3)  No less than fifty per cent by July 1, 2030.

     (b)  The requirements set forth in this section shall apply only to lessors owning and operating, as rental motor vehicles, a total of more than two hundred light duty passenger vehicles with a gross weight rating below 8,500 pounds, and the required zero-emission vehicle percentages shall apply only to those light duty passenger vehicles with a gross weight rating below 8,500 pounds.

     (c)  To certify compliance with this section, beginning in 2021, each lessor in the State shall report to the director annually by December 1, detailing the make, model, license plate number, and fuel type of each rental motor vehicle in the lessor's fleet.

     (d)  For the purposes of this section:

     "Battery electric vehicle" means a vehicle with four or more wheels that draws propulsion exclusively from a battery that can be recharged from an external source of energy.

     "Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle" means a vehicle with four or more wheels that draws propulsion from electricity generated by passing hydrogen through a fuel cell.

     "Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle" means a vehicle with four or more wheels that draws propulsion from a battery, but which also has an internal combustion engine that may be used to either propel the vehicle directly, or to produce electricity to recharge the battery; provided that a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with sixteen or more kilowatt hours of battery storage qualifies as a full zero-emission vehicle, while a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with less energy storage qualifies as a partial zero-emission vehicle, to be calculated by dividing the total kilowatt hours of energy storage in the battery by sixteen, rounded to the nearest tenth.

     "Zero-emission vehicle" means a battery electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle."

     SECTION 3.  (a)  There is established within the department of commerce and consumer affairs for administrative purposes a task force to develop a plan for incorporating zero-emission vehicles into the fleets of rental motor vehicle lessors operating in Hawaii pursuant to the schedule established by section 437-  , Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     (b)  The task force shall consist of the following members:

     (1)  The director of commerce and consumer affairs or the director's designee, who shall serve as the chairperson of the task force;

     (2)  The director of business, economic development, and tourism or the director's designee;

     (3)  The director of transportation or the director's designee;

     (4)  The executive director of the office of consumer protection or the executive director's designee;

     (5)  The president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii tourism authority or the president and chief executive officer's designee;

     (6)  A representative of the rental motor vehicle industry in Hawaii; and

     (7)  A representative of the hotel industry in Hawaii.

Task force members may recommend additional members with appropriate specialized expertise to the task force, with the approval of the chairperson.

     (c)  In developing a plan for incorporating zero-emission vehicles into the fleets of rental motor vehicle lessors operating in Hawaii, the task force shall evaluate and address:

     (1)  Establishing the infrastructure to adequately support zero-emission vehicles in various areas, including airport facilities, hotels, and major tourist attractions in the State;

     (2)  Financing the costs to establish the infrastructure needed to adequately support zero-emission vehicles;

     (3)  The availability of zero-emission vehicles produced by vehicle manufacturers;

     (4)  Impacts on costs to local renters; and

     (5)  The operational costs of maintaining zero-emission vehicles within a lessor's fleet, including registration and repair costs.

     (d)  Members of the task force shall be exempted from section 26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred, including travel expenses.  No member of the task force shall be made subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of that member's participation as a member of the task force.

     (e)  The department of commerce and consumer affairs shall provide administrative and clerical support required by the task force.

     (f)  The task force shall submit a report to the legislature of its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2019.

     (g)  The task force shall be dissolved on June 30, 2019.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the task force established by this Act to develop a plan for incorporating zero-emission vehicles into the fleets of rental motor vehicle lessors operating in Hawaii.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of commerce and consumer affairs for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.


 


 

Report Title:

Zero-emission Vehicles; Rental Motor Vehicles; Lessors; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires rental motor vehicle lessors with more than two hundred light duty passenger vehicles, to plan for the incorporation of at least fifty per cent of zero-emission vehicles into the lessor's fleet by 2030 and report information on all vehicles in the lessor's fleet to the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.  Establishes a task force to develop a plan for incorporating zero-emission vehicles into the fleets of rental motor vehicle lessors operating in Hawaii.  Appropriates funds for the task force.  (SB2955 HD1)

 

 

 

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