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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a motor vehicle mileage fee pilot |
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program for certain motor vehicles by the Texas Department of Motor |
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Vehicles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Department" means the Texas Department of Motor |
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Vehicles. |
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(2) "Electric motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle |
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that uses electricity as its only source of motor power. |
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(3) "Hybrid motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle that |
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draws propulsion energy from both gasoline or conventional diesel |
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fuel and a rechargeable energy storage system. |
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(4) "Liquefied fuel motor vehicle" means a motor |
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vehicle that operates on one or any combination of the following: |
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(A) liquefied natural gas; |
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(B) butane; |
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(C) ethane; or |
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(D) propane. |
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(5) "Plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicle" means a |
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motor vehicle that draws propulsion energy from both gasoline or |
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conventional diesel fuel and batteries that can be charged from an |
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external electrical outlet. |
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SECTION 2. MOTOR VEHICLE MILEAGE FEE PILOT PROGRAM. (a) |
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The department, in consultation with the Texas Department of |
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Transportation, Department of Public Safety, and comptroller of |
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public accounts, by rule shall: |
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(1) establish the administrative framework needed to |
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implement a system for assessing a motor vehicle mileage fee; and |
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(2) implement a pilot program to gather data regarding |
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the feasibility of implementing a motor vehicle mileage fee using |
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the established mileage fee framework. |
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(b) A person who owns an electric motor vehicle, a plug-in |
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hybrid electric motor vehicle, a hybrid motor vehicle, or a |
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liquefied fuel motor vehicle that is registered in Dallas or |
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Tarrant County is eligible to participate in the pilot program. The |
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pilot program must provide for optional participation and be |
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available to the first 1,000 persons eligible to participate. A |
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person participating in the pilot program may not be charged a fee |
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for participating in the pilot program. |
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(c) The department must establish the administrative |
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framework needed to implement a system for assessing a motor |
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vehicle mileage fee not later than January 1, 2012. The pilot |
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program must begin not later than January 1, 2012, and must end not |
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later than July 15, 2012. |
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(d) The department, in consultation with the Texas |
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Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, and |
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comptroller of public accounts, shall establish incentives for |
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participation in the pilot program. |
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(e) A person who participates in the pilot program must have |
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the mileage of the person's vehicle determined by an odometer |
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reading that will occur in a manner specified by the department. |
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(f) In evaluating the feasibility of implementing a motor |
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vehicle mileage fee, the department shall consider, to the extent |
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possible: |
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(1) economic efficiency; |
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(2) long-term revenue generation; |
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(3) long-term revenue stability; |
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(4) charging fairness; and |
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(5) privacy concerns. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than October 1, 2014, the |
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department shall submit a report to the legislature that includes |
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recommendations regarding the feasibility of assessing a motor |
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vehicle mileage fee in this state or another fee to replace the gas |
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tax. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 31, 2014. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |