STAND. COM. REP. NO. 573

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1316

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 1316, 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 require the board of directors of an association of apartment owners, condominium association, cooperative housing corporation, or planned community association, upon receipt of a request for the installation of an electric vehicle charging system, to make a decision to approve or deny the request within sixty days.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from EV Structure, Ulupono Initiative, and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

     Your Committee finds electric vehicles provide a more efficient transportation method that reduces fossil fuel consumption.  Your Committee further finds that as the demand for electric vehicles grows, so does the demand for electric vehicle charging systems.  This measure facilitates the right to choose a more efficient transportation solution in a timely manner.

     Your Committee has heard the concerns that because section 196-7.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, prohibits multifamily dwellings from denying the installation of an electric vehicle charging system, the language proposed by this measure may contradict that section.  Your Committee notes that section 196-7.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, does permit private entities to adopt rules that reasonably restrict the installation of electric vehicle charging systems.

     According to testimony received by your Committee, transformers in typical multifamily dwellings across the country have a transformer load capacity that allows for the installation of approximately six level II electric vehicle chargers.  Subsequent requests for additional charging systems could require a transformer upgrade, which can cost approximately $35,000.  Your Committee additionally finds that a board of directors and requesting shareholders, members, or unit owners should understand the capacity of a transformer before approval is given to install an electric vehicle charging system.  Together with energy audit data, this data will give the board and shareholders, members, or unit owners a more accurate and comprehensive idea of the cost of installing an electric vehicle charging station.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the board of directors of an association of apartment owners, condominium association, cooperative housing corporation, or planned community association, upon receipt of a request for the installation of an electric vehicle charging system, to make a decision to approve, or approve with reasonable restrictions, the request within sixty days;

     (2)  Requiring receipt of documentation on transformer load capacity and an energy audit prior to the board of directors' approval or approval with reasonable restrictions of a request to install an electric vehicle charging system; and

     (3)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1316, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1316, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair