2019 -- S 0558

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LC001674

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - STATE FLEET REPLACEMENT

REVOLVING LOAN FUND

     Introduced By: Senators Seveney, DiPalma, Euer, and Coyne

     Date Introduced: March 14, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-11-2.4 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-11 entitled

"Department of Administration" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-11-2.4. State Fleet Replacement Revolving Loan Fund.

     (a) There is hereby created as a separate fund within the treasury to be known as the state

fleet replacement revolving loan fund which shall be administered by the general treasurer in

accordance with the same laws and fiscal procedures as the general funds of the state. This fund,

hereafter referred to as the "revolving loan fund", shall consist of such sums as the state may from

time to time appropriate, as well as money received from the disposal of used vehicles, loan,

interest and service charge payments from benefiting state agencies, as well as interest earnings,

money received from the federal government, gifts, bequests, donations, or otherwise from any

public or private source.

     (b) This fund shall be used for the purpose of acquiring motor vehicles, both new and

used, and vehicle-related equipment and attachments for state departments and agencies.

     (c) The proceeds from the repayment of any loans made for the purposes authorized

under this chapter shall be deposited in and returned to the revolving loan fund in order to

constitute a continuing revolving fund for the purposes listed above.

     (d) The office of state fleet operations of the Rhode Island department of administration

shall adopt rules and regulations consistent with the purposes of this chapter and chapter 35 of

title 42, in order to provide for the orderly and equitable disbursement and repayment of funds

from the revolving loan fund.

     (e) Provided; however, a total of four million two hundred thousand dollars ($4,200,000)

shall be made available as a direct grant from the revolving loan fund for the required twenty

percent (20%) match for the Public Transit Authority to obtain federal funds to purchase buses

through FY 2017. Any such sums need not be repaid to the revolving loan fund.

     (f) For the purposes of this section, a "zero emission vehicle", shall mean a battery

electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a fuel cell vehicle. For fiscal year 2020, the

department of administration will ensure that not less than fifteen percent (15%) of all vehicle

purchases are zero emission vehicles. For fiscal year 2021, the department of administration will

ensure that not less than twenty percent (20%) of all vehicle purchases are zero emission vehicles.

For fiscal year 2022, the department of administration will ensure that not less than twenty-five

percent (25%) of all vehicle purchases are zero emission vehicles. For fiscal year 2023, the

department of administration will ensure that not less than thirty percent (30%) of all vehicle

purchases are zero emission vehicles. For fiscal year 2024, the department of administration will

ensure that not less than thirty-five percent (35%) of all vehicle purchases are zero emission

vehicles. For fiscal year 2025, the department of administration will ensure that not less than forty

percent (40%) of all vehicle purchases are zero emission vehicles. For fiscal year 2026, the

department of administration will ensure that not less than forty-five percent (45%) of all vehicle

purchases are zero emission vehicles. For fiscal year 2027, the department of administration will

ensure that not less than fifty percent (50%) of all vehicle purchases are zero emission vehicles.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - STATE FLEET REPLACEMENT

REVOLVING LOAN FUND

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     This act would require that the state use funds from the state fleet replacement revolving

loan fund to require that a minimum percentage of its fleet vehicle purchases are made of zero

emission vehicles which mean, battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or fuel cell vehicles. The

required percentage purchase would start at twenty-percent (20%) for fiscal years 2020, and

gradually increase until fiscal years 2027, when the funds would be used to make fifty percent

(50%) of its purchases for zero emission vehicles.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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