STAND. COM. REP. NO. 656

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 809

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 809, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the scope of the electric bicycle and electric moped rebate program to include electric micro-mobility devices.

 

     More specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Renames the electric bicycle and electric moped rebate program as the electric mobility rebate program;

 

     (2)  Expands the scope of the program to include electric micro-mobility devices and defines the term, "electric micro-mobility device;"

 

     (3)  Establishes an additional rebate type under the program;

 

     (4)  Changes the eligibility requirements for receipt of a rebate under the program; and

 

     (5)  Appropriates moneys to the Department of Transportation for the operation of the program.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Hawaii State Energy Office, Hawaii Bicycling League, Ulupono Initiative, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from PeopleForBikes.

 

     Your Committee finds that providing additional rebates for the purchase of electric micro-mobility devices will help the State to more efficiently achieve its goal by 2045 of sequestering more atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gases than are emitted in the State.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Repealing, rather than amending, the existing electric bicycle and electric moped mobility rebate program and electric bicycle and electric moped subaccount of the highway development special fund;

 

     (2)  Establishing a new electric mobility rebate program that enlarges the scope of the electric bicycle and electric moped mobility rebate program to also include electric micro-mobility services;

 

     (3)  Inserting an appropriation for fiscal year 2022-2023;

 

     (4)  Inserting language to clarify that the appropriations made for fiscal years 2022-2023, 2023-2024, and 2024-2025 shall lapse on June 30, 2024; June 30, 2025; and June 30, 2026, respectively;

 

     (5)  Establishing an electric mobility special fund;

 

     (6)  Changing the effective date of the appropriations for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to July 1, 2051, and the effective date of the remaining provisions of this measure to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

     (7)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 809, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 809, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair