BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3310

By: Rodriguez, Eddie

Energy Resources

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties observe that electric vehicles plug in directly to the Texas electric grid, using domestically produced electricity for power instead of gasoline or diesel.  This generation of advanced technology vehicles brings benefits to Texas, including significant emission reductions, energy independence, job creation, and alignment with wind energy generation.

C.S.H.B. 3310 seeks to encourage the successful commercialization of electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, improve the environmental performance of the light-duty vehicle fleet, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and petroleum dependence, and achieve Texas' environmental objectives.

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

C.S.H.B. 3310 amends the Health and Safety Code, in provisions setting out statewide incentives for the purchase or lease of new light-duty motor vehicles under the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan, to establish that the incentive applies to new gasoline-powered light-duty motor vehicles and to new light-duty motor vehicles powered wholly or partly by an electric motor and to specify that the emissions standard for a new gasoline-powered light-duty vehicle  is required to be at least as stringent as the standard set out in the provisions of law relating to a vehicle purchase or lease incentive.

C.S.H.B. 3310, in a provision of law relating to a light-duty motor vehicle purchase or lease incentive, clarifies that these provisions are applicable to such a light-duty vehicle powered exclusively by a gasoline engine.  The bill, in those same provisions of law, creates a temporary provision, set to expire September 1, 2013, establishing that an incentive for a new light-duty motor vehicle powered wholly or partly by an electric motor, including a vehicle that draws power from a battery or a hybrid engine, is $2,500 and limits the incentive for such electric-powered vehicles to 2,000 vehicles for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2011.  The bill makes a motor vehicle primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational camping or travel use that draws power from a battery or a hybrid engine solely for purposes other than propulsion ineligible for the incentive.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 3310, in a temporary bill provision, differs from the original by establishing an incentive for a new light-duty motor vehicle powered wholly or partly by an electric motor, whereas the original establishes that incentive for such a vehicle powered in part by an electric motor. The substitute, in the same temporary provision, differs from the original by making certain recreation vehicles ineligible for the incentive.  The substitute differs from the original in conforming and nonsubstantive ways.