Bill Text: HI HB1543 | 2017 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 1543 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating To Energy Training.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-03-24 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDL/WAM. [HB1543 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2017-HB1543-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1543
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ENERGY TRAINING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The State's ambitious clean energy goals, along with advances in energy technology, have created incentives for the adoption of new energy systems technologies and equipment, including distributed electrical systems such as solar panels and energy storage.

Installation of these modern energy systems has been an economic driver, reduced the State's dependence on imported oil, and helped to protect the environment, but the increased construction has placed additional burdens on some county employees. Employees responsible for permitting, inspecting, licensing, and approving projects, including employees at county public works departments, employees at planning and permitting departments, and fire departments, must now remain constantly informed of new technology in the energy sector. However, the legislature finds that many of these employees are not provided with the proper training and must either research the standards themselves or pay for their own training. In addition, the lack of training can lead to unnecessary delays in the approval or implementation of a project.

The purpose of this Act is to create a program to provide training to county employees responsible for permitting, inspecting, licensing, and approving energy systems and related technology.

SECTION 2. Chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§196- Energy systems and technology training. (a) Energy systems and technology training courses shall be established as needed to educate relevant officers and employees of the counties on the various standards and requirements for renewable energy systems and related distributed electricity technologies, including energy storage. The courses, including any materials necessary to implement the courses, shall be developed, designed, prepared, and conducted by the University of Hawaii community colleges, or by a public or private entity contracted by the University of Hawaii community colleges.

(b) The energy systems and technology training courses may include information on:

(1) New innovations in energy systems and technology, such as recent advancements in distributed electricity technologies and related interaction of these systems and technologies with the electrical grid;

(2) The implementation of new and existing energy systems and technology in compliance with international, national, state, and county standards, including building and fire codes; and

(3) Any other relevant topic pertaining to the various standards and requirements for renewable energy systems and related technology.

(1) Administer the energy systems and technology training courses;

(2) Provide notifications or advertisements of the courses to relevant county employees, including employees at county public works departments, employees at planning and permitting departments, fire departments, and others involved in the permitting, inspecting, licensing, and approving of construction projects; and

(3) Provide the courses at no cost to the participants or for a fee, which may be refunded; provided that funds are available for that purpose.

(d) The University of Hawaii community colleges may designate its staff to conduct the energy systems and technology training courses or contract with a public or private entity to conduct the courses.

(e) The University of Hawaii community colleges shall establish a committee comprised of stakeholders, including local and national industry representatives from distributed energy systems providers, including solar and energy storage systems, and county representatives from each county who will work closely with the staff of the University of Hawaii community colleges and subject matter experts to:

(1) Provide input and guidance on identifying the necessary training areas in which to provide training to county employees;

(2) Provide input and guidance on identifying the related and required training equipment to be incorporated into the training program; and

(3) Assist with outreach and buy-in from county employees and constituents to enhance participation in the training."

SECTION 3. The University of Hawaii community colleges shall submit a report to the legislature describing the progress made in establishing energy systems and technology training courses for county employees as provided in this Act no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2019.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $125,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for energy systems and technology training as provided for in this Act; provided that funds may be used to refund participant fees for training courses pursuant to section 196‑ (c)3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in section 2 of this Act.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Energy Systems and Technology; Training; County Employees; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the University of Hawaii community colleges to establish energy systems and technology training courses for county employees responsible for permitting, inspecting, licensing, and approving construction projects that contain renewable energy systems and related technology. Requires the establishment of a committee of industry stakeholders to collaborate with the University of Hawaii community colleges in developing appropriate training courses. Requires the University of Hawaii community colleges to submit a report to the legislature detailing its progress prior to the convening of the regular session of 2019. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.