HB 1455 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to high occupancy vehicle lanes; amending
3	s. 316.0741, F.S.; allowing certain energy-saving vehicles
4	to travel in such lanes, regardless of occupancy;
5	providing for a decal and registration certificate;
6	providing for a fee; defining "hybrid vehicle"; providing
7	rulemaking authority; providing an effective date.
8
9	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11	Section 1. Subsections (4) and (5) are added to section
12	316.0741, Florida Statutes, to read:
13	316.0741 High occupancy vehicle lanes.--
14	(4)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
15	section, a vehicle designated as a hybrid vehicle under this
16	subsection may be driven in an HOV lane at any time, regardless
17	of its occupancy. The department shall issue a decal and
18	registration certificate, to be renewed annually, reflecting the
19	HOV lane designation on hybrid vehicles authorizing such use.
20	The department may charge a fee for the decals, at a price not
21	to exceed the costs of designing, producing, and distributing
22	each decal, or $5, whichever is less. The proceeds from sale of
23	the decals shall be deposited in the Highway Safety Operating
24	Trust Fund.
25	(b) For the purposes of this subsection, the term "hybrid
26	vehicle" means a motor vehicle made by a manufacturer and which:
27	1. Draws propulsion energy from onboard sources of stored
28	energy which consist of an internal combustion or heat engine
29	using combustible fuel and a rechargeable energy storage system;
30	and
31	2. In the case of a passenger automobile or light truck:
32	a. For vehicle models year 2000 and later, has received a
33	certificate of conformity under the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. s.
34	7401 et seq., and meets or exceeds the equivalent qualifying
35	California low emission vehicle standard under s. 243(e)(2) of
36	the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 7583(c)(2), for that make and
37	model year;
38	b. For a vehicle models year 2004 and later, has received
39	a certificate that such vehicle meets or exceeds the Bin 5 Tier
40	II emission level established in regulations prescribed by the
41	Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under s.
42	202(i) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 7521(i); or
43	c. Achieves a composite label fuel economy greater than or
44	equal to 1.5 times the Model Year 2002 E.P.A. composite class
45	average for the same vehicle class.
46	(5) The department may adopt rules necessary to administer
47	this section.
48	Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2003.