STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1612

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 72

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 72, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, 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:

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

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

(3) Retain personal injury protection benefits for any individual sustaining injuries while using or operating an electric foot scooter.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawai‘i State Energy Office, Honolulu Police Department, Spin, Helbiz, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that shared micromobility vehicles, including bicycles, e-bikes, and electric foot scooters, are more frequently becoming part of multimodal transportation systems.  Your Committees further find that although electric foot scooters are becoming increasingly common, they are not adequately regulated under existing law.  Your Committees additionally find that electric foot scooters are vehicles but are not bicycles, and that applying bicycle regulations to electric foot scooters is not optimal. 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 have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that foot-powered scooters with no motors are not included within the definition of "electric foot scooters";

(2) Making it effective upon its approval; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 72, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 72, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair