BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 432

By: Lucio III

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

As of January 2006, the fleet size for all state agencies totaled over 20,000 vehicles. These fleet vehicles are used for the transportation of materials and staff. They are also used to conduct vital operations such as maintenance and law enforcement activities.

 

This legislation would increase the amount of low-emission vehicles purchased by state agencies. Currently, 10% of all new vehicles purchased by state agencies are required to be rated by the Environmental Protection Agency as a Tier II, Bin 3 vehicle with a Gas Greenhouse Score of at least eight. This bill would increase that percentage to 20% of new vehicles purchased by state agencies. All of the vehicles that are eligible in the category get at least 30 miles per gallon fuel mileage.

 

House Bill 432  decreases the cost of operating each new vehicle by $200 to $1,500 per vehicle and reduces the total amount of pollutants emitted by state vehicle fleets.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

House Bill 432  amends Section 2158.009(b) of the Government Code to require that a state agency authorized to purchase passenger vehicles or other ground transportation vehicles for general use ensure that not less than 20 percent of its vehicle purchases during any state fiscal biennium are vehicles that meet or exceed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tier II, Bin 3, emissions standards and have a greenhouse gas score of eight or better under the standards of that agency as they existed September 1, 2007.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.