STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2583

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2995

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2995 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC FOOT SCOOTERS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve roadway safety by establishing a framework for the regulation of electric foot scooters by the State and counties and amending the definition of "moped" to exclude electric foot scooters.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Department of Planning, County of Kaua‘i; Department of Transportation Services, City and County of Honolulu; Hawaii Bicycling League; Spin, Inc.; Skip, Inc.; and Ulupono Initiative. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawaii Association for Justice. Your Committees received comments on this measure from Lime, Bird Rides, Inc.

Your Committees find that electric foot scooters and other micromobility options have enormous potential to be a solution to reducing transportation costs, vehicle congestion on Hawaii's roads, dependence on fossil fuels, and pollutants and harmful emissions. These vehicles are also a good option for first-mile/last-mile connections for many who use public transit as a primary mode of transportation. Your Committees further find that given the frequency with which these scooters are seen on the roads, it is necessary to appropriately regulate these vehicles. This measure establishes a framework for the regulation of electric foot scooters by the State and counties and amends the definitions of "moped" to exclude electric foot scooters. Your Committees note the testimony of the Department of Planning, County of Kaua‘i, suggesting that the definition of electric foot scooter in this measure conform to the definition of electric foot scooter in similarly introduced measures.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by changing the definition of "electric foot scooter" to include that the device weigh less than seventy-five pounds.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2995, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2995, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair