LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 12, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Warren Chisum, Chair, House Committee on
               Environmental Regulation
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB3284  by Hope (Relating to emissions requirements for
               certain motor vehicles in a fleet.), Committee Report 1st
               House, Substituted
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would amend and consolidate state alternative fuel and vehicle
purchasing or leasing statutes to allow the purchase or lease of vehicles
operating on any type of fuel as long as they meet specific emissions
criteria. The provisions of the bill set an annual escalating percentage
of purchase and lease goals for vehicles that must not exceed an average
of nitrogen oxide standards of Bin 3, which is 90 percent cleaner than
current low emission vehicle standards.  These percentage goals affect
all state agencies with a vehicle fleet of 15 or more vehicles,
regardless of location, and certain local government agencies or mass
transit authorities (MTAs) that have a fleet of 25 or more vehicles. The
requirements apply to vehicles purchased on or after the dates listed in
the escalating percentage schedule.

State agencies, and local governments and MTAs in certain counties, would
be required to submit an annual report to the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission to demonstrate compliance.  The commission would
be allowed to waive the requirements or reduce the percentage
requirements if the agency or authority could demonstrate by evidence
that no vehicles are available that fit the criteria, or for a mass
transit authority for which compliance would unduly compromise a public
transportation alternative that reduces motor vehicle miles traveled.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   582   Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission,
                   303   General Services Commission
LBB Staff:         JK, CL, DB