STAND. COM. REP. NO. 369

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 72

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 72, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a framework for the regulation of electric foot scooters by the State and counties; and

(2) Amend definitions of "moped" to exclude electric foot scooters.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu, and Honolulu Police Department. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Association for Justice. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office and Spin.

Your Committee finds that electric foot scooters and other micromobility options continue to evolve and expand. As use of micromobility devices increase, your Committee notes that these modes of transportation offer enormous potential to be a solution to reducing transportation costs, traffic on Hawaii's roadways, dependence on fossil fuels, and pollutants and harmful emissions. Electric foot scooters provide an affordable, convenient, and sustainable transportation option.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Placing the new registration requirements for electric foot scooters under the chapter relating to County Vehicular Taxes, rather than in the Traffic Code;

(2) Clarifying the penalties for persons who operate an electric foot scooter in reckless disregard of persons or property;

(3) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 72, 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. 72, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair