H.B. 41

             1     

CLEAN FUEL SCHOOL BUSES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Stephen G. Handy

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Aaron Osmond

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill provides grants to replace school buses and to create infrastructure for
             10      alternative fuel vehicles.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    allows the State Board of Education to award a grant to a school district or charter
             14      school to:
             15              .    replace a school bus manufactured before 2002 with a new school bus that uses
             16      CNG, propane, or clean diesel fuel;
             17              .    install an alternative fuel fueling station for a school bus that uses alternative
             18      fuel and that may be accessed by a governmental entity or the public to fuel an
             19      alternative fuel vehicle; or
             20              .    retrofit a bus shop to service and maintain a school bus that uses alternative
             21      fuel;
             22          .    requires the State Board of Education to make rules related to the awarding of a
             23      grant, including rules that:
             24              .    specify criteria for selecting a grant recipient; and
             25              .    require a grant recipient to provide funding matches in an amount that is greater
             26      than or equal to the amount of a grant received; and
             27          .    requires the State Board of Education to:


             28              .    facilitate training for bus shop technicians and bus drivers on the operation and
             29      maintenance of a school bus that uses alternative fuel; and
             30              .    make a report to the Legislature.
             31      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             32          This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2015:
             33          .    to the State Board of Education - Utah State Office of Education - Initiative
             34      Programs as a one-time appropriation:
             35              .    from the Education Fund, One-time, $20,000,000.
             36      Other Special Clauses:
             37          This bill provides an effective date.
             38      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             39      ENACTS:
             40           53A-17a-127.5 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             41     
             42      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             43          Section 1. Section 53A-17a-127.5 is enacted to read:
             44          53A-17a-127.5. Grants for school buses and alternative fuel infrastructure.
             45          (1) As used in this section:
             46          (a) "Alternative fuel" means CNG or propane.
             47          (b) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
             48          (c) "Clean diesel fuel" means diesel fuel with a sulfur content of no more than 15 parts
             49      per million (ppm).
             50          (d) "CNG" means compressed natural gas.
             51          (2) The board may award a grant to a school district or charter school to:
             52          (a) replace a school bus manufactured before 2002 with a new school bus that uses
             53      CNG, propane, or clean diesel fuel;
             54          (b) install an alternative fuel fueling station:
             55          (i) for a school bus that uses alternative fuel; and
             56          (ii) that may be accessed by a governmental entity or the public to fuel an alternative
             57      fuel vehicle; or
             58          (c) retrofit a bus shop to service and maintain a school bus that uses alternative fuel.


             59          (3) The board shall make rules:
             60          (a) establishing procedures for applying for and awarding a grant;
             61          (b) specifying criteria for selecting a grant recipient;
             62          (c) requiring reporting of grant money expenditures and evidence that a new school bus
             63      purchased with grant money has replaced a school bus manufactured before 2002; and
             64          (d) requiring a grant recipient to provide matching funds in an amount that is greater
             65      than or equal to the amount of a grant received under this section.
             66          (4) The board shall appoint a committee that includes representatives of school
             67      districts, charter schools, and the board to review grant applications and make
             68      recommendations to the board for the award of grants that meet the requirements of this section
             69      and rules adopted under Subsection (3).
             70          (5) Through the state superintendent of public instruction, the board shall facilitate
             71      training for bus shop technicians and bus drivers on the operation and maintenance of a school
             72      bus that uses alternative fuel.
             73          (6) On or before November 1, 2014, the board shall submit a report to the Public
             74      Education Appropriations Subcommittee that:
             75          (a) describes the grants awarded under this section; and
             76          (b) includes recommendations regarding continuation of the grant program.
             77          Section 2. Appropriation.
             78          Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for
             79      the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014, and ending June 30, 2015, the following sums of money
             80      are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts
             81      previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated. These sums of money are in
             82      addition to any amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2015.
             83          To State Board of Education - Utah State Office of Education - Initiative Programs
             84          From Education Fund, One-time
$20,000,000

             85          Schedule of Programs:
             86              Contracts and Grants                    $20,000,000
             87          The Legislature intends that of the $20,000,000 appropriated for the Contracts and
             88      Grants Program, the State Board of Education may expend:
             89          (1) up to $13,000,000 for grants for new school buses pursuant to Section


             90      53A-17a-127.5 ; and
             91          (2) up to $7,000,000 for grants for alternative fuel fueling stations and bus shop
             92      retrofits pursuant to Section 53A-17a-127.5 .
             93          Section 3. Effective date.
             94          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), this bill takes effect on May 13, 2014.
             95          (2) Section 2, Appropriations, takes effect on July 1, 2014.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 12-23-13 1:32 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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