2023 -- H 5198

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF

ADMINISTRATION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McGaw, Cortvriend, Carson, Cotter, Speakman,
Kennedy, Casimiro, and Henries

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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of Administration" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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private source.

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     This fund shall be used for the purpose of acquiring purchasing or leasing motor vehicles,

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both new and used, and vehicle-related equipment, and attachments to include electric vehicle

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charging stations for state departments and agencies.

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

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

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continuing revolving fund for the purposes listed above.

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     (d) The office of management and budget in coordination with the office of state fleet

 

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operations of the Rhode Island department of administration shall adopt rules and regulations

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consistent with the purposes of this chapter and chapter 35 of title 42, in order to provide for the

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orderly and equitable disbursement and repayment of funds from the revolving loan fund.

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

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

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percent (20%) match for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority to obtain federal funds to

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

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     (f) As used in this section:

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     (1) "Authorized emergency vehicle" has the same meaning as defined in § 31-1-3.

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     (2) "Light duty vehicle" means vehicles less than eight thousand five hundred pounds

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(8,500 lbs) as defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration.

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     (3) "Non-emergency vehicle" means every vehicle except authorized emergency vehicles.

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     (4) "Zero-emission vehicle" means a battery electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric

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vehicle, or a fuel cell vehicle.

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     (g) Beginning in fiscal year 2024, the department of administration shall be the responsible

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state agency with the authority to control and authorize state agency purchases or leases to ensure

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compliance with the following percentage of all new light duty, non-emergency vehicles as zero-

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emission vehicles in each fiscal year:

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     (1) Fifteen percent (15%) in fiscal year 2024;

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     (2) Twenty percent (20%) in fiscal year 2025;

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     (3) Twenty five percent (25%) in fiscal year 2026;

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     (4) Thirty percent (30%) in fiscal year 2027;

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     (5) Thirty five percent (35%) in fiscal year 2028;

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     (6) Forty percent (40%) in fiscal year 2029;

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     (7) Forty five percent (45%) in fiscal year 2030; and

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     (8) Fifty percent (50%) in fiscal year 2031.

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     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 -- DEPARTMENT OF

ADMINISTRATION

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     This act would define light duty, non-emergency, emergency and zero-emission vehicles

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and would require the state to annually increase the percentage of zero-emission vehicles in the

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state's fleet of new light duty, non-emergency vehicles to finally result in no less than fifty percent

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(50%) zero emission vehicles by the year 2031.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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