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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Texas natural gas vehicle grant program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 394.003, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A vehicle is a qualifying vehicle that may be considered |
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for a grant under the program if during the eligibility period |
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established by the commission the entity: |
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(1) purchased, leased, or otherwise commercially |
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financed the vehicle as an [a new] on-road heavy-duty or |
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medium-duty motor vehicle that: |
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(A) is a new natural gas vehicle or, subject to |
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Subsection (c), a used natural gas vehicle; |
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(B) is certified to the appropriate current |
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federal emissions standards as determined by the commission; and |
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(C) replaces an on-road heavy-duty or |
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medium-duty motor vehicle of the same weight classification and |
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use; or |
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(2) repowered the on-road motor vehicle to a natural |
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gas vehicle powered by a natural gas engine that is certified to the |
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appropriate current federal emissions standards as determined by |
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the commission. |
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(c) A used natural gas vehicle that is proposed to replace |
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an on-road heavy-duty or medium-duty motor vehicle must be of model |
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year 2017 or later, provided that the model year may not be more |
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than six years older than the current model year at the time of the |
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submission of the grant application. |
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SECTION 2. Section 394.005(b), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) To be eligible for a grant under the program: |
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(1) the use of the qualifying vehicle must be |
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projected to result in a reduction in emissions of nitrogen oxides |
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of at least 25 percent as compared to the motor vehicle or engine |
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being replaced, based on: |
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(A) the baseline emission level set by the |
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commission under Subsection (g); and |
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(B) the certified emission rate of the qualifying |
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[new] vehicle; and |
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(2) the qualifying vehicle must: |
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(A) replace a heavy-duty or medium-duty motor |
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vehicle that: |
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(i) is an on-road vehicle that has been |
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owned, leased, or otherwise commercially financed and registered |
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and operated by the applicant in Texas for at least the two years |
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immediately preceding the submission of a grant application; |
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(ii) satisfies any minimum average annual |
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mileage or fuel usage requirements established by the commission; |
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(iii) satisfies any minimum percentage of |
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annual usage requirements established by the commission; and |
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(iv) is in operating condition and has at |
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least two years of remaining useful life, as determined in |
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accordance with criteria established by the commission; |
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(B) replace a heavy-duty or medium-duty motor |
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vehicle that: |
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(i) is owned by the applicant; |
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(ii) is an on-road vehicle that has been: |
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(a) owned, leased, or otherwise |
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commercially financed and operated in Texas as a fleet vehicle for |
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at least the two years immediately preceding the submission of a |
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grant application; and |
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(b) registered in a county located in |
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the clean transportation zone for at least the two years |
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immediately preceding the submission of a grant application; and |
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(iii) otherwise satisfies the mileage, |
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usage, and useful life requirements established under Paragraph (A) |
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as determined by documentation associated with the vehicle; or |
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(C) be a heavy-duty or medium-duty motor vehicle |
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repowered with a natural gas engine that: |
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(i) is installed in an on-road vehicle that |
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has been owned, leased, or otherwise commercially financed and |
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registered and operated by the applicant in Texas for at least the |
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two years immediately preceding the submission of a grant |
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application; |
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(ii) satisfies any minimum average annual |
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mileage or fuel usage requirements established by the commission; |
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(iii) satisfies any minimum percentage of |
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annual usage requirements established by the commission; and |
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(iv) is installed in an on-road vehicle |
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that, at the time of the vehicle's repowering, was in operating |
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condition and had at least two years of remaining useful life, as |
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determined in accordance with criteria established by the |
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commission. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |