BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1548

79R9616 JTS-D                                                                                                      By: Van de Putte

Transportation & Homeland Security

4/11/2005

As Filed

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) operates its fleet of vehicles on propane to comply with legislation requiring TxDOT to meet an alternative fuel mandate.

As proposed, S.B. 1548 allows TxDOT more options to fill its alternative fuel need.  The bill creates a Texas Hydrogen Transportation Corridor that will consist of hydrogen refueling stations in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Houston.  In addition, the bill requires TxDOT to operate four vehicles with hydrogen operated internal combustion engines, and three vehicles with hydrogen operated fuel cells or one fuel cell bus. The bill requires all refueling stations to be located strategically near IH-35 and IH-10

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 382.133, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsection (d), to authorize a mass transit hydrogen-fueled fleet vehicle to be used to satisfy the percentage required under this section (relating to a mass transit authority's fleet using alternative fuels).

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, by adding Section 201.617, as follows:

Sec. 201.617.  HYDROGEN-FUELED VEHICLES AND REFUELING STATIONS.  (a)  Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to establish and operate at least four hydrogen refueling stations.  Requires the refueling stations to be located in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston near Interstate Highway 10 or Interstate Highway 35.

            (b) Requires TxDOT, in each of the cities in Subsection (a), to operate hydrogen    fueled-vehicles, including, at a minimum four vehicles with internal combustion       engines that run on hydrogen and three fuel-cell vehicles or one fuel cell bus.

            (c)  Authorizes a vehicle purchased to meet the requirements of Subsection (a) to   be used to satisfy the alternative fuels percentage requirement under Subchapter         A (Purchase of Passenger Vehicles), Chapter 2158, Government Code.

            (d)  Authorizes TxDOT to establish hydrogen refueling stations on the Trans-         Texas   Corridor under Chapter 227 (Trans-Texas Corridor).

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2005.