STAND. COM. REP. NO. 726

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 756

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 756, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Authorize each county to adopt ordinances to enforce section 291-71, Hawaii Revised Statutes, including the establishment of penalties for failure to comply with its requirements or make reasonable efforts to maintain electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in working order;

 

     (2)  Clarify that certain enforcement officers may enter private property to enforce EV parking space violations;

 

     (3)  Require new EV charging systems installed pursuant to the EV charging system requirement to be at least Level 2 and internet-capable; and

 

     (4)  Change EV charging equipped parking requirements per one hundred stalls from one stall by 2012 to five stalls by 2025 and ten stalls by 2030.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii State Energy Office, one member of the Maui County Council, Hawaiian Electric Company, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Climate Reality Project – Hawaii Chapter, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association, Our Revolution Hawaii, Climate Protectors Hawaii, 350Hawaii, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Blue Planet Foundation, Tesla, and thirty individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii and Building Owners and Managers Association of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that emissions from ground transportation account for the largest share of energy sector emissions in the State.  Despite Hawaii's statutory target to sequester more greenhouse gases than emitted no later than 2045, less than thirty percent of qualifying parking lots are in compliance with the requirements to designate and maintain a certain number of charging systems for EVs.  This measure clarifies the authority to enforce and promote much needed compliance for EV charging infrastructure to help Hawaii meet its clean energy goals.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that new EV charging systems installed pursuant to the EV charging system requirement be at least Level 2 and network capable; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 756, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 756, S.D. 2.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

 

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair