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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles |
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regarding alternatively fueled vehicles and gasoline and diesel |
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taxes. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Alternatively fueled vehicle" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 502.004(a), Transportation Code. |
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(2) "Conventional vehicle" means a vehicle, as defined |
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by Section 502.001(45), Transportation Code, that is exclusively |
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powered by gasoline or diesel fuel. |
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(3) "Department" means the Texas Department of Motor |
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Vehicles. |
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(4) "Gasoline tax" and "diesel fuel tax" mean the |
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motor fuel taxes established under Subchapters B and C, Chapter |
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162, Tax Code, respectively. |
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(5) "Vehicle miles traveled" means the number of miles |
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traveled by a vehicle. |
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(b) The department shall conduct a study on the feasibility |
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and desirability of a program to establish a fee similar to the |
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gasoline or diesel fuel tax for alternatively fueled vehicles. |
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(c) The study must: |
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(1) review other state or federal laws regarding fees |
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and taxes for alternatively fueled vehicles and whether those laws |
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reduced gasoline and diesel fuel tax revenue, including: |
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(A) whether other states measure the vehicle |
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miles traveled of alternatively fueled vehicles to calculate any |
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fees or taxes; and |
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(B) if so, what methods were used to calculate |
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the vehicle miles traveled; |
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(2) calculate the revenue generated from gasoline and |
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diesel fuel taxes per vehicle mile traveled in Texas; |
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(3) calculate the total amount of vehicle fees and |
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taxes that drivers of alternatively fueled vehicles pay compared |
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with the total amount of vehicle fees and taxes drivers of |
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conventional vehicles pay, and calculate the net revenue generated |
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by each; |
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(4) determine whether a correlation exists between the |
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market penetration of alternatively fueled vehicles and the |
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decrease in revenue from gasoline and diesel fuel taxes; |
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(5) compile and analyze all available sources of data |
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related to the vehicle miles traveled for alternatively fueled |
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vehicles in Texas; |
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(6) determine whether the Department of Public Safety |
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should collect information on the vehicle miles traveled at an |
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alternatively fueled vehicle's annual inspection under Chapter |
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548, Transportation Code; |
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(7) determine a method, in measuring vehicle miles |
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traveled, to distinguish between alternatively fueled vehicles, |
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hybrid vehicles, as defined by Section 382.003(7-b), Health and |
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Safety Code, and conventional vehicles at annual inspections under |
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Chapter 548, Transportation Code; |
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(8) determine the feasibility of implementing a |
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program creating a vehicle miles traveled fee for alternatively |
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fueled vehicles that will be paid into the state highway fund, |
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including: |
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(A) the cost of implementing such a program to |
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drivers of alternatively fueled vehicles and to the state; |
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(B) whether the vehicle miles traveled measured |
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by the program should include miles traveled outside the State of |
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Texas; |
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(C) whether vehicle weight should be a factor in |
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calculating vehicle miles traveled; |
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(D) the appropriate state agency to administer |
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such a program; and |
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(E) the appropriate methods of and schedule for |
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payment for the vehicle miles traveled fee implemented under the |
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program; and |
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(9) calculate the feasibility and determine the |
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consequences of abolishing gasoline and diesel fuel taxes and |
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replacing the taxes with a vehicle miles traveled fee for all |
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vehicles, including: |
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(A) calculating the total amount in fees the |
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average driver would be required to pay to ensure that the state not |
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lose the revenue it derives from gasoline and diesel fuel taxes; and |
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(B) comparing any potential negative effects |
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from implementing a vehicle miles traveled fee for all vehicles and |
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any current negative effects from gasoline and diesel fuel taxes. |
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(d) Not later than December 1, 2020, the department shall |
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prepare and submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of |
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the house of representatives, and members of the legislature a |
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written report that includes a summary of the results of the study |
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conducted under this section and any legislative recommendations |
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based on the study. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires September 1, 2021. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |