2023 -- H 5198

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LC000196

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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:

     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.

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

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

charging stations 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 management and budget in coordination with 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 Rhode Island 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) As used in this section:

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

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

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

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

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

vehicle, or a fuel cell vehicle.

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

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

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

emission vehicles in each fiscal year:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     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

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

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

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

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000196

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