STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1143

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 346

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 346, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require that the design of new state facilities be electric vehicle charger-ready;

 

     (2)  Require the Hawaii State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Transportation, to determine the priority order for retrofitting state facilities, based on certain factors including location, expected future demand, estimated costs, other make-ready work, other planned improvements, and other relevant factors;

 

     (3)  Establish the goal of the State to retrofit state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready; and

 

     (4)  Appropriate funds for the Department of Accounting and General Services to install or contract for the installation of retrofits and electric vehicle charging systems at the selected state facilities.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Transportation, Kauai Women's Caucus, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Ulupono Initiative, 350Hawaii.org, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Wild Kids, Hawaiian Electric, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, and thirteen individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Energy Office, Big Island Electric Vehicle Association, and Blue Planet Foundation.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying the responsibilities of the Hawaii State Energy Office regarding the prioritization of existing state facilities for which the office will conduct cost assessments for retrofitting for electric vehicle charging infrastructure; and

 

     (2)  Clarifying the purpose of the appropriation; and

 

     (3)  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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 346, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 346, H.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair