Senate Bill 2148
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2148
By Senator Lee
16-1616-99
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to alternative fuel vehicles;
3 creating the "Florida Clean Fuel Act";
4 providing purposes; providing definitions;
5 establishing the Clean Fuel Florida Advisory
6 Board; specifying membership; requiring a
7 report containing recommendations for pilot
8 programs; requiring a report to the
9 Legislature; requiring a budget; providing
10 effective dates.
11
12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
13
14 Section 1. Short title and purpose.--
15 (1) This act may be cited as the "Florida Clean Fuel
16 Act."
17 (2) The purpose of this act is to establish the Clean
18 Fuel Florida Advisory Board within the Department of Community
19 Affairs to study the implementation of alternative fuel
20 vehicles in order to formulate and provide to the Secretary of
21 Community Affairs recommendations on expanding the use of
22 alternative fuel vehicles in this state.
23 Section 2. Definitions.--As used in this act, the
24 term:
25 (1) "Alternative fuels" means electricity, biodiesel,
26 natural gas, propane, and any other fuel that is determined to
27 be appropriate by the Department of Community Affairs with
28 guidance from the Clean Fuel Florida Advisory Board.
29 (2) "Alternative fuel vehicles" means on-road and
30 off-road transportation vehicles and light-duty, medium-duty,
31
1
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2148
16-1616-99
1 and heavy-duty vehicles that are powered by an alternative
2 fuel or a combination of alternative fuels.
3 Section 3. Clean Fuel Florida Advisory Board
4 established; membership; duties and responsibilities.--
5 (1) There is created within the Department of
6 Community Services the Clean Fuel Florida Advisory Board.
7 (2)(a) Within 30 days after the effective date of this
8 act, the Secretary of Community Affairs shall appoint members
9 of the Clean Fuel Florida Advisory Board.
10 (b) The board shall consist of:
11 1. The Secretary of Community Affairs, or his or her
12 designee.
13 2. The Secretary of Environmental Protection, or his
14 or her designee.
15 3. The Commissioner of Education, or his or her
16 designee.
17 4. The Secretary of Transportation, or his or her
18 designee.
19 5. The Commissioner of Agriculture or his or her
20 designee.
21 6. The Secretary of Management Services, or his or her
22 designee.
23 7. A representative of:
24 a. The biodiesel industry.
25 b. The electric utility industry.
26 c. The natural gas industry.
27 d. The propane gas industry.
28 e. An automobile manufacturing association.
29 f. A United States Department of Energy-designated
30 Florida Clean Cities Coalition.
31 g. Enterprise Florida, Inc.
2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2148
16-1616-99
1 h. EV Ready Broward.
2 i. The petroleum industry.
3 j. The Florida League of Cities.
4 k. The Florida Association of Counties.
5 l. Floridians for Better Transportation.
6 m. Motor vehicle manufacturers.
7 n. Local environmental resource agencies.
8 (4) The purpose of the board is to serve as a resource
9 for the Department of Community Affairs and to provide the
10 Governor, the Legislature, and the Secretary of Community
11 Affairs with private-sector and other public-agency
12 perspectives on achieving the goal of increasing the use of
13 alternative fuel vehicles in this state.
14 (5) Members shall be appointed to serve terms of 1
15 year each, with reappointment at the discretion of the
16 secretary. Vacancies are to be filled for the unexpired
17 portion of the term.
18 (6) The board shall annually select a chairman.
19 (7)(a) The board shall meet at least once each quarter
20 or more often at the call of the chairman or secretary.
21 (b) Meetings are exempt from the notice provision of
22 chapter 120, Florida Statutes, and reasonable notice must be
23 given to apprise interested persons of the meetings.
24 (c) The members of the board are entitled to travel
25 expenses while engaged in the performance of their duties.
26 (d) The board is terminated on July 1, 2004.
27 (8) The board shall review the performance of the
28 state with reference to alternative fuel vehicles
29 implementation in complying with federal statutes and
30 maximizing available federal funding, and may:
31
3
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2148
16-1616-99
1 (a) Advise the Governor, Legislature, and Secretary of
2 Community Affairs regarding recommendations on the
3 implementation and use of alternative fuel vehicles in the
4 state.
5 (b) Identify potential improvements to the state's
6 alternative fuel policies.
7 (c) Request from all state agencies any information
8 that the board determines relevant to its duties.
9 (d) Regularly report to the Secretary of Community
10 Affairs, the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
11 Speaker of the House of Representatives regarding its findings
12 and recommendations.
13 (9)(a) Board members shall, within 90 days after their
14 first meeting, make recommendations to the Department of
15 Community Affairs for establishing pilot programs in this
16 state which provide experience and support the best-use
17 expansion of the alternative fuel vehicle industry in this
18 state. Funds may not be released for a project unless there is
19 at least a 50-percent private or local match.
20 (b) In addition to the pilot programs, the board shall
21 assess federal, state, and local initiatives to identify
22 incentives that encourage successful alternative fuel vehicle
23 programs; obstacles to alternative fuel vehicle use, including
24 legislative, regulatory, and economic obstacles; and programs
25 to educate and inform the public concerning alternative fuel
26 vehicles.
27 (c) The board shall determine a reasonable way to
28 address current motor fuel taxes as they apply to alternative
29 fuels and at what threshold of market penetration.
30 (d) Based on its findings, the board shall provide
31 recommendations to the Legislature on future alternative fuel
4
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 1999 SB 2148
16-1616-99
1 vehicle programs and legislative changes that will provide the
2 best use of state and other resources to enhance the
3 alternative fuel vehicle market in this state and maximize the
4 return on that investment with respect to job creation,
5 economic development, and emissions reduction.
6 (9) The board, working with the Department of
7 Community Affairs, shall develop a budget in support of its
8 work, and all expenditures must be approved by the department.
9 At the conclusion of the first year, the department shall
10 conduct an audit of the board and its programs.
11 Section 4. At least 60 percent of the funds provided
12 for in Specific Appropriation No. must be used to
13 increase the use of alternative fuel vehicles by local
14 governments, businesses, and individuals under the guidance of
15 the Clean Fuel Florida Advisory Board. Funds may not be
16 released for a project except through a board grant process
17 requiring at least 50 percent in matching local or private
18 funds. Priority must be given to projects that promote the use
19 of alternative fuels in community policing programs, at
20 airports and in bus projects, which maximize the availability
21 of federal funds. Advisory Board program support expenditures
22 are not to exceed $150,000 in the first year.
23 Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
24 law.
25
26 *****************************************
27 SENATE SUMMARY
28 Creates the "Florida Clean Fuel Act." Establishes the
Clean Fuel Florida Advisory Board within the Department
29 of Community Affairs to study the implementation of
alternative fuel vehicles and to provide recommendations
30 on expanding the use of alternative fuel vehicles in this
state. Provides membership of the board. Requires a
31 report containing recommendations for pilot programs.
Requires a budget.
5