CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.House Bill 0139
Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 139
By Representative Roberts-Burke
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to motor vehicles; directing
3 the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
4 Vehicles to establish two
5 alternative-fuel-vehicle pilot projects;
6 imposing a fee on the registration of motor
7 vehicles; creating a trust fund; directing the
8 legal entities for the Florida Gold Coast Clean
9 Cities Coalition and the Florida Suncoast Clean
10 Cities Coalition to perform certain duties
11 relating to the pilot projects; providing for
12 the use of trust fund moneys; authorizing a
13 future fee increase; providing an effective
14 date and termination date.
15
16 WHEREAS, motor vehicles that are powered by alternative
17 fuels promote economic development and energy security, and
18 WHEREAS, motor vehicles that are powered by alternative
19 fuels have a substantial positive impact on the air quality
20 and can aid in the maintenance of air-quality-attainment
21 status, and
22 WHEREAS, developing a dedicated funding source is
23 critical to the development of a sustainable market for
24 alternative-fuel vehicles, NOW, THEREFORE,
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26 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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28 Section 1. (1) The Department of Highway Safety and
29 Motor Vehicles shall establish two alternative-fuel-vehicle
30 pilot projects. The first pilot project is located in Dade,
31 Broward, and Palm Beach Counties to carry out the goals of the
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Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 139
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1 Florida Gold Coast Clean Cities Coalition, including the goal
2 to make alternative-fuel vehicles operational. The second
3 pilot project is located in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco,
4 Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota Counties to carry out the goals
5 of the Florida Suncoast Clean Cities Coalition.
6 (2) In order to fund the pilot projects, the
7 department, upon approval by the appropriate board of county
8 commissioners, shall impose a $1 fee on the initial
9 application for registration and renewal of registration for
10 each motor vehicle, as defined in section 320.01(1), Florida
11 Statutes, except alternative-fuel vehicles, trailers without
12 motorized power, or other vehicles exempt under chapter 320,
13 Florida Statutes, in Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough,
14 Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota Counties. The
15 proceeds from the fees are to be used to reduce air pollution,
16 promote fuel diversity, and encourage economic development
17 through the purchase of or conversion to alternative-fuel
18 vehicles.
19 (3) As used in this act, the term "alternative fuel"
20 means methanol, denatured ethanol, and other alcohols;
21 mixtures of gasoline or other fuels which contain 85 percent
22 or more by volume of methanol, denatured ethanol, and other
23 alcohols; natural gas; liquefied petroleum gas; hydrogen;
24 coal-derived liquid fuels; fuels, other than alcohol, derived
25 from biological material; and electricity.
26 (4) A tax collector or other duly authorized agent of
27 the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall
28 promptly remit all moneys collected under this section to the
29 department. Up to 10 percent of the moneys collected may be
30 used for administrative costs by the department. The remainder
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Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 139
235-211-97
1 of the proceeds shall be deposited into the Air
2 Quality/Alternative Fuel Trust Fund.
3 Section 2. (1) The Air Quality/Alternative Fuel Trust
4 Fund is created. The primary purpose of the trust fund is to
5 finance the incremental purchase price or total conversion
6 cost of alternatively fueled vehicles. Funds may also be used
7 in any other manner that assists in the reduction of
8 mobile-source emissions and furthers the goals of the
9 applicable clean cities coalition. The South Florida Regional
10 Planning Council, acting as the legal entity of the Florida
11 Gold Coast Clean Cities Coalition, shall administer the funds
12 collected in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. Funds may
13 be used in a manner consistent with the council's existing
14 Revolving Loan and Grant Program in which eligible
15 participants are given loans and grants based on objective
16 criteria. The legal entity for the Florida Suncoast Clean
17 Cities Coalition shall administer the funds collected in
18 Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota
19 Counties.
20 (2) The legal entities for the Florida Gold Coast
21 Clean Cities Coalition and the Florida Suncoast Clean Cities
22 Coalition shall:
23 (a) Distribute funds based upon a formula that
24 reflects the amount of fees collected from the owners of motor
25 vehicles registered in each county;
26 (b) Review the progress of the pilot project annually
27 and make recommendations to the department;
28 (c) Report on the number of vehicles purchased or
29 converted as a result of the pilot project; and
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Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 139
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1 (d) Estimate air-quality benefits received as a result
2 of the pilot project and received in relation to net
3 expenditures.
4 Section 3. After October 1, 1999, the Department of
5 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may raise the fee to not
6 more than $4 per motor vehicle in any county in the two pilot
7 projects at the request of the applicable legal entity for the
8 Florida Gold Coast Clean Cities Coalition or the legal entity
9 for the Florida Suncoast Clean Cities Coalition.
10 Section 4. This act shall take effect October 1, 1997,
11 and shall terminate December 31, 2002, but it shall not take
12 effect unless it is enacted by a three-fifths vote of the
13 membership of each house of the Legislature.
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16 SENATE SUMMARY
17 Directs the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
Vehicles to establish two alternative-fuel-vehicle pilot
18 projects to promote economic development, energy
security, and clean air. Imposes an additional fee on the
19 registration of motor vehicles. Creates the Air
Quality/Alternative Fuel Trust Fund. Directs the legal
20 entities for the Florida Gold Coast Clean Cities
Coalition and the Florida Suncoast Clean Cities Coalition
21 to use the funds for certain purposes and to perform
certain duties.
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