H.B. No. 432
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the acquisition by state agencies of low-emissions
  vehicles and vehicles using alternative fuels.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2158.001, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 2158.001.  DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION].  In this
  subchapter:
               (1)  "Conventional [, "conventional] gasoline" means
  any gasoline that does not meet specifications set by a
  certification under Section 211(k) of the federal Clean Air Act (42
  U.S.C. Section 7545(k)).
               (2)  "Golf cart" has the meaning assigned by Section
  502.001, Transportation Code.
               (3)  "Light-duty motor vehicle" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 386.151, Health and Safety Code.
               (4)  "Motor vehicle" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 386.151, Health and Safety Code.
               (5)  "Neighborhood electric vehicle" means a motor
  vehicle that:
                     (A)  is originally manufactured to meet, and does
  meet, the equipment requirements and safety standards established
  for "low-speed vehicles" in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
  500 (49 C.F.R. Section 571.500);
                     (B)  is a slow-moving vehicle, as defined by
  Section 547.001, Transportation Code, that is able to attain a
  speed of more than 20 miles per hour but not more than 25 miles per
  hour in one mile on a paved, level surface;
                     (C)  is a four-wheeled motor vehicle;
                     (D)  is powered by electricity or alternative
  power sources;
                     (E)  has a gross vehicle weight rating of less
  than 3,000 pounds; and
                     (F)  is not a golf cart.
               (6)  "Plug-in hybrid motor vehicle" means a vehicle
  that:
                     (A)  draws motive power from a battery with a
  capacity of at least four kilowatt-hours;
                     (B)  can be recharged from an external source of
  electricity for motive power; and
                     (C)  is a light-duty motor vehicle capable of
  operating at highway speeds, excluding golf carts and neighborhood
  electric vehicles.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 2158, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 2158.0013 to read as follows:
         Sec. 2158.0013.  APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER.  The
  purchasing requirements relating to alternatively fueled vehicles
  established by this subchapter do not apply if a state agency
  demonstrates that the state agency will incur net costs in meeting
  the requirements of this subchapter.
         SECTION 3.  Section 2158.003(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A state agency may not purchase or lease a vehicle
  designed or used primarily for the transportation of individuals,
  including a station wagon, that has a wheelbase longer than 113
  inches or that has more than 160 SAE net horsepower. The vehicle
  may have a wheelbase of up to 116 inches or SAE net horsepower of up
  to 280 if the vehicle will be converted so that it uses [is capable
  of using] compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied
  petroleum gas, methanol or methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent
  or greater, ethanol or ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or
  greater, biodiesel or biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or
  greater, or electricity, including electricity to power a plug-in
  hybrid motor vehicle. This exception to the wheelbase and
  horsepower limitations applies to a state agency regardless of the
  size of the agency's vehicle fleet.
         SECTION 4.  Sections 2158.004(a), (b), (c), and (d),
  Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A state agency operating a fleet of more than 15
  vehicles, excluding law enforcement and emergency vehicles, may not
  purchase or lease a motor vehicle unless that vehicle uses [is
  capable of using] compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas,
  liquefied petroleum gas, methanol or methanol/gasoline blends of 85
  percent or greater, ethanol or ethanol/gasoline blends of 85
  percent or greater, biodiesel or biodiesel/diesel blends of 20
  percent or greater, or electricity, including electricity to power
  a plug-in hybrid motor vehicle.
         (b)  A state agency may obtain equipment or refueling
  facilities necessary to operate vehicles using compressed natural
  gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol or
  methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater, ethanol or
  ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater, biodiesel or
  biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or greater, or electricity,
  including electricity to power a plug-in hybrid motor vehicle:
               (1)  by purchase or lease as authorized by law;
               (2)  by gift or loan of the equipment or facilities; or
               (3)  by gift or loan of the equipment or facilities or
  by another arrangement under a service contract for the supply of
  compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum
  gas, methanol or methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  ethanol or ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  biodiesel or biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or greater, or
  electricity, including electricity to power a plug-in hybrid motor
  vehicle.
         (c)  If the equipment or facilities are donated, loaned, or
  provided through another arrangement with the supplier of
  compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum
  gas, methanol or methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  ethanol or ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  biodiesel or biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or greater, or
  electricity, including electricity to power a plug-in hybrid motor
  vehicle, the supplier is entitled to recoup its actual cost of
  donating, loaning, or providing the equipment or facilities through
  its fuel charges under the supply contract.
         (d)  The commission may waive the requirements of this
  section for a state agency on receipt of certification supported by
  evidence acceptable to the commission that:
               (1)  the agency's vehicles will be operating primarily
  in an area in which neither the agency nor a supplier has or can
  reasonably be expected to establish adequate refueling for
  compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum
  gas, methanol or methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  ethanol or ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  biodiesel or biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or greater, or
  electricity, including electricity to power a plug-in hybrid motor
  vehicle; or
               (2)  the agency is unable to obtain equipment or
  refueling facilities necessary to operate vehicles using
  compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum
  gas, methanol or methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  ethanol or ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  biodiesel or biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or greater, or
  electricity, including electricity to power a plug-in hybrid motor
  vehicle, at a projected cost that is reasonably expected to be no
  greater than the net costs of continued use of conventional
  gasoline or diesel fuels, measured over the expected useful life of
  the equipment or facilities supplied.
         SECTION 5.  Sections 2158.005, 2158.006, 2158.007, and
  2158.008, Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 2158.005.  PERCENTAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES
  [CAPABLE OF] USING ALTERNATIVE FUELS[; PROGRAM REVIEW]. (a)  Not
  later than September 30, 2010 [1, 1996], a state agency that
  operates a fleet of more than 15 motor vehicles, excluding law
  enforcement and emergency vehicles, shall have a fleet consisting
  of vehicles of which at least 50 percent use [are capable of using]
  compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum
  gas, methanol or methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  ethanol or ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  biodiesel or biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or greater, or
  electricity, including electricity to power a plug-in hybrid motor
  vehicle.
         (b)  [The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
  shall review the program established by this subchapter by December
  31, 1996. If the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
  determines that the program has been effective in reducing total
  annual emissions from motor vehicles in the area, then after August
  31, 1998, a state agency operating a fleet of more than 15 motor
  vehicles shall have a fleet consisting of vehicles of which at least
  90 percent are capable of using compressed natural gas, liquefied
  natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol or
  methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater, ethanol or
  ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater, or electricity.
         [(c)]  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 
  [commission] shall collect [support the Texas Natural Resource
  Conservation Commission in collecting] reasonable information
  needed to determine the air quality benefits from use of compressed
  natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas,
  methanol or methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  ethanol or ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  biodiesel or biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or greater, or
  electricity, including electricity to power a plug-in hybrid motor
  vehicle, at affected agencies.
         (c) [(d)]  A state agency in its annual financial report to
  the legislature shall report its progress in achieving the
  percentage requirements of this section by [itemizing]:
               (1)  itemizing purchases, leases, and conversions of
  motor vehicles; [and]
               (2)  itemizing usage of compressed natural gas,
  liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol or
  methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater, ethanol or
  ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater, biodiesel or
  biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or greater, or electricity,
  including electricity to power a plug-in hybrid motor vehicle;
               (3)  describing the availability of compressed natural
  gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol or
  methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater, ethanol or
  ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater, biodiesel or
  biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or greater, or electricity,
  including electricity to power a plug-in hybrid motor vehicle; and
               (4)  providing the information reasonably needed to
  determine the air quality benefits from use of compressed natural
  gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol or
  methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater, ethanol or
  ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater, biodiesel or
  biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or greater, or electricity,
  including electricity to power a plug-in hybrid motor vehicle.
         (d) [(e)]  A state agency may meet the percentage
  requirements of this section through purchase of new vehicles or
  the conversion of existing vehicles, in accordance with federal and
  state requirements and applicable safety laws.  The Texas State
  Technical College System shall develop a program and provide
  training to a state agency converting an existing vehicle to meet
  the requirements of this section.
         (e) [(f)]  The comptroller [commission] may reduce a
  percentage specified by this section or waive the requirements of
  this section for a state agency on receipt of certification
  supported by evidence acceptable to the comptroller [commission]
  that:
               (1)  the agency's vehicles will be operating primarily
  in an area in which neither the agency nor a supplier has or can
  reasonably be expected to establish adequate refueling for
  compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum
  gas, methanol or methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  ethanol or ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  biodiesel or biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or greater, or
  electricity, including electricity to power a plug-in hybrid motor
  vehicle; or
               (2)  the agency is unable to obtain equipment or
  refueling facilities necessary to operate vehicles using
  compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum
  gas, methanol or methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  ethanol or ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater,
  biodiesel or biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or greater, or
  electricity, including electricity to power a plug-in hybrid motor
  vehicle, at a projected cost that is reasonably expected to be no
  greater than the net costs of continued use of conventional
  gasoline or diesel fuels, measured over the expected useful life of
  the equipment or facilities supplied.
         Sec. 2158.006.  DETERMINATION OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS PROGRAM
  PARAMETERS. In developing the use of compressed natural gas,
  liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol or
  methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater, ethanol or
  ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater, biodiesel or
  biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or greater, or electricity,
  including electricity to power a plug-in hybrid motor vehicle, the
  commission should work with state agency fleet operators, vehicle
  manufacturers and converters, fuel distributors, and others to
  determine the vehicles to be covered, taking into consideration:
               (1)  range;
               (2)  specialty uses;
               (3)  fuel availability;
               (4)  vehicle manufacturing and conversion capability;
               (5)  safety;
               (6)  resale values; and
               (7)  other relevant factors.
         Sec. 2158.007.  COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE SAFETY
  STANDARDS. In purchasing, leasing, maintaining, or converting
  vehicles for use with compressed natural gas, liquefied natural
  gas, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol or methanol/gasoline blends
  of 85 percent or greater, ethanol or ethanol/gasoline blends of 85
  percent or greater, biodiesel or biodiesel/diesel blends of 20
  percent or greater, or electricity, including electricity to power
  a plug-in hybrid motor vehicle, the commission shall comply with
  all applicable safety standards adopted by the United States
  Department of Transportation and the Railroad Commission of Texas.
         Sec. 2158.008.  WHEN VEHICLE CONSIDERED TO BE [CAPABLE OF]
  USING ALTERNATIVE FUELS. In this subchapter, a vehicle is
  considered to be [capable of] using compressed natural gas,
  liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol or
  methanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater, ethanol or
  ethanol/gasoline blends of 85 percent or greater, biodiesel or
  biodiesel/diesel blends of 20 percent or greater, or electricity,
  including electricity to power a plug-in hybrid motor vehicle, if
  the vehicle uses [is capable of using] those fuels:
               (1)  not less than 80 percent of the time the vehicle is
  driven; and
               (2)  either in its original equipment engine or in an
  engine that has been converted to use those fuels.
         SECTION 6.  Section 2158.009, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (b)  A state agency authorized to purchase passenger
  vehicles or other ground transportation vehicles for general use
  shall ensure that not less than 25 [10] percent of the vehicles the
  agency [its vehicle] purchases during any state fiscal biennium,
  other than vehicles the purchase of which is exempted from this
  subsection by Subsection (c) or (d), are [purchases of] vehicles
  that meet or exceed the emissions standards necessary to be rated by
  the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a Tier II, Bin
  3, emissions standard vehicle that has a greenhouse gas score of
  eight under regulations of that agency as they existed September 1,
  2007.
         (d)  Subsection (b) does not apply to a state agency's
  purchase of a vehicle to be used by a peace officer, as defined by
  Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, whose duties include the
  apprehension of persons for violation of a criminal law of this
  state.
         SECTION 7.  Section 2158.009(a), Government Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 432 was passed by the House on April
  22, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 6, 1 present, not
  voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
  H.B. No. 432 on May 29, 2009, and requested the appointment of a
  conference committee to consider the differences between the two
  houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
  on H.B. No. 432 on May 31, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 109,
  Nays 36, 1 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 432 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 27, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays
  2; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
  committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
  that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
  432 on May 31, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 2.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor