STAND. COM. REP. NO. 462-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2699

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2699, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish clean ground transportation goals for the State, with the ultimate goal of achieving a one hundred percent light-duty motor vehicle fleet by December 31, 2045.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Hawaii State Energy Office; Climate Protectors Coalition; IMUAlliance; 350Hawaii.org; Ulupono Initiative; We Are One, Inc.; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; Blue Planet Foundation; and eight individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Procurement Office, Elemental Excelerator, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, and Hawaii Automobile Dealers' Association.

Your Committee finds that in 2016, emissions from transportation activities in Hawaii were 8.69 million metric tons CO2 equivalent, accounting for fifty-one percent of energy sector emissions. Ground transportation accounted for forty-seven percent of those transportation emissions. Transitioning all light-duty vehicles to be powered by renewable resources will aid in eliminating a significant portion of Hawaii's greenhouse gas emissions from the ground transportation sector.

Your Committee further finds that the State Procurement Office has partnered with various state departments and agencies to develop a strategic procurement plan regarding the adaptation of electric vehicles and its respective infrastructure for Hawaii state light-duty vehicles. The State Procurement Office has already authorized a statewide cooperative agreement to procure for electric vehicles and charging stations; the procurement of which is currently underway.

Your Committee recognizes the concerns raised by the State Procurement Office regarding the placement of subject-specific specifications in the Procurement Code, as the Procurement Code is meant for general procurement methods. Your Committee notes the State Procurement Office's suggestion that the language of this measure currently in Chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, should be placed in Chapter 264, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2699, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2699, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair