4-3-1109 - Energy efficient state vehicles.
4-3-1109. Energy efficient state vehicles.
(a) The commissioner shall encourage the acquisition of energy-efficient motor vehicles in the fleet of state vehicles. Each year, every effort should be made to achieve a target goal that one hundred percent (100%) of newly purchased passenger motor vehicles be energy-efficient motor vehicles. The department shall ensure that at least twenty-five percent (25%) of newly purchased passenger motor vehicles procured for use in areas designated by the United States environmental protection agency (EPA) as ozone nonattainment areas shall be hybrid-electric vehicles; provided, that such vehicles are available at the time of procurement. In the event that such vehicles are not available at the time of procurement, the department may instead meet this mandate by procuring compact fuel-efficient vehicles. In areas not designated by the EPA as ozone nonattainment areas, the department shall ensure that at least twenty-five percent (25%) of newly purchased passenger motor vehicles are hybrid-electric vehicles or compact fuel-efficient vehicles.
(b) (1) Commencing June 30, 2008, the commissioner shall compile and maintain information on the nature of passenger motor vehicles that are owned and leased by the state, including, but not limited to:
(A) The number of passenger motor vehicles purchased during the fiscal year categorized by energy-efficiency; and
(B) The number of passenger motor vehicles owned as of June 30 of each year categorized by energy-efficiency.
(2) The commissioner shall file an annual report with the governor and the general assembly concerning such passenger motor vehicles. The report shall include at a minimum:
(A) Problems or concerns the state may have experienced in meeting the target goal set pursuant to subsection (a) relative to obtaining such energy-efficient motor vehicles;
(B) Any savings or increased expenditures to the state in the purchase of, as well as the operation and maintenance cost of, such motor vehicles; and
(C) Plans for integrating energy-efficient motor vehicles identified in subdivisions (c)(1)(E) and (G) into the state passenger motor vehicle fleet.
(3) The information compiled and maintained pursuant to subdivisions (b)(1) and (2) shall be made accessible to the public on the department's web site through a prominent link provided on the home page. In addition, the department shall submit an annual report containing the information compiled and maintained pursuant to subdivisions (b)(1) and (2) to the speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and to the chairs of the committees concerning government operations and conservation and environment of the senate and the house of representatives.
(c) For purposes of this section unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) Energy-efficient motor vehicle means a passenger motor vehicle that is:
(A) An alternative fuel vehicle as defined by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-486);
(B) A flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) utilizing ethanol, biodiesel, or any other commercially available alternative fuel approved by the United States department of energy;
(C) A hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV);
(D) A compact fuel-efficient vehicle, defined as a vehicle powered by unleaded gasoline that has a United States environmental protection agency estimated highway gasoline mileage rating of at least twenty-five (25) miles per gallon or greater for the model year purchased;
(E) An electric vehicle (EV);
(F) A vehicle powered by natural gas; or
(G) A vehicle powered by ultra low sulfur diesel fuel that meets Bin 5, Tier II emission standards mandated by the EPA and that has an EPA-estimated highway mileage rating of at least thirty (30) miles per gallon or greater for the model year purchased; and
(2) Passenger motor vehicle means a motor vehicle designed for carrying six (6) or fewer adult passengers and used for the transportation of persons; provided, that vans, including cargo vans, trucks, sport utility vehicles and police pursuit vehicles shall not be considered passenger motor vehicles.
[Acts 2007, ch. 532, § 1; 2009, ch. 529, §§ 7-13.]