2024 -- S 2595

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LC005132

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- MOTOR VEHICLES OWNED

BY A GOVERNMENTAL BODY

     

     Introduced By: Senators DiMario, Euer, Cano, Valverde, and Miller

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-11.3-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-11.3 entitled "Motor

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Vehicles Owned by a Governmental Body" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-11.3-1. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings unless otherwise

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specified:

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     (1) “General officer” means the governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general,

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the secretary of state, and the general treasurer.

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     (2)(i) “Governmental body” means any department, commission, council, board, bureau,

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committee, institution, legislative body, agency, government corporation, including, without

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limitation, the council on postsecondary education and council on elementary and secondary

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education or other establishment of the executive, legislative or judicial branch of the state.

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     (ii) “Governmental body” also means the Rhode Island industrial recreational building

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authority, the Rhode Island commerce corporation, the Rhode Island industrial facilities

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corporation, the Rhode Island refunding bond authority, the Rhode Island housing and mortgage

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finance corporation, the Rhode Island solid waste management corporation, the Rhode Island

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public transit authority, the Rhode Island student loan authority, the Howard development

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corporation, the water resources board, the Rhode Island health and education building corporation,

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the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority, the Blackstone Valley district commission, the

 

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Narragansett Bay water quality management district commission, Rhode Island

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telecommunications authority, the convention center authority, channel 36 foundation, their

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successors and assigns, and any other body corporate and politic which has been here before or

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which is hereinafter created or established within this state excepting cities and towns.

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     (3) “Own” means control and the intent to control and includes any type of arrangement,

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including by way of illustration, and not by limitation, a lease arrangement, whereby an employee

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of a governmental body is supplied principal or exclusive use of a motor vehicle by his or her

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employer.

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     (4) “Law enforcement officer” means an individual: (i) who is employed on a full-time

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basis by a governmental body that is responsible for the prevention or investigation of crime

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involving injury to persons or property (including the apprehension or detention of persons for such

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crimes); (ii) who is authorized by law to carry firearms, execute search warrants, and to make arrests

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(other than merely a citizen’s arrest); and (iii) who regularly carries firearms (except when it is not

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possible to do so because of the requirements of undercover work). The term law enforcement

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officer shall include an arson investigator if the investigator otherwise meets these requirements.

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     (5) “Commuting” means driving a motor vehicle owned by a governmental body to and

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from the work place and the employee’s residence.

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     (6) “Employee” means an individual who works for a governmental body not less than

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thirty-five (35) hours a week.

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     (7) "Zero-emission vehicle" means a vehicle which produces no emissions from the on-

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board source of power.

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     (8) "Alternative-fueled vehicle" means a vehicle that can have a combination of a small

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combustion engine, electric motors, and battery packs, or is powered by hydrogen fuel-cells.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 42-11.3 of the General Laws entitled "Motor Vehicles Owned by a

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Governmental Body" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     42-11.3-7. Waivers for vehicle replacement.

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     (a) A governmental body shall begin the replacement of all gasoline-powered vehicles with

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a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) when it is deemed that a vehicle has reached its end of service life.

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For any additional new fleet vehicles leased or purchased, the governmental body shall procure

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zero-emission vehicles.

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     (b) If a gasoline-powered vehicle cannot be replaced with a zero-emission vehicle due to

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limited supply or inadequate replacement, the governmental body may be granted a waiver for

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purchasing an alternative vehicle. If a waiver is granted, the governmental body shall lease or

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purchase an alternative-fueled vehicle until a time when a zero-emission vehicle is available.

 

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     (c) No governmental body shall be granted more than three (3) waivers in a calendar year

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unless they prove there are no zero-emission vehicles available for adequate replacement of

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gasoline-powered vehicles.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2025

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- MOTOR VEHICLES OWNED

BY A GOVERNMENTAL BODY

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     This act would require that any government owned vehicle that is to be replaced, be

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replaced with a zero-emission vehicle, defined as a vehicle which produces no emissions from the

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on-board source of power.

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     This act would take effect on January 1, 2025.

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