HOUSE BILL NO. 457

INTRODUCED BY S. KITZENBERG

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION, WHEN PURCHASING NEW VEHICLES, TO ENSURE THAT A MINIMUM OF 5 PERCENT OF ALL NEW VEHICLES PURCHASED ARE POWERED BY RENEWABLE FUELS; REQUIRING THAT AN AGENCY REQUESTING THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE BE GIVEN THE OPTION OF REQUESTING A VEHICLE POWERED BY RENEWABLE FUELS; REQUIRING THAT A VEHICLE PROVIDED FOR THE OFFICIAL USE OF THE GOVERNOR OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BE POWERED BY RENEWABLE FUELS; DEFINING "RENEWABLE FUELS"; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

WHEREAS, the United States depends on foreign suppliers for more than 50% of the transportation fuel consumed in this country; and

WHEREAS, the Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires many government fleets to phase into alternatively fueled vehicles in order to decrease dependence on foreign oil, and Montana is exempt from the requirement because of low population; and

WHEREAS, vehicles powered by alternative fuels, including fuel referred to as "E-85", which is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, are capable of operating on more than one fuel, including gasoline, and can be purchased at automobile dealerships without special order; and

WHEREAS, the federal Clean Air Act has mandated that a certain percentage of vehicles in certain communities with polluted air must use clean fuels to control automobile emissions, and the U.S. Department of Energy has activated a Clean Cities program to assist with cleaning the air; and

WHEREAS, ethanol is a clean-burning, renewable fuel, and E-85 fuel is increasingly available; and

WHEREAS, the Governor has stated a desire to find ways to add value to commodities raised in Montana, and ethanol production is a value-added business; and

WHEREAS, Montana citizens and state agency personnel must show leadership and responsibility to make our nation more energy independent.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Vehicles powered by renewable fuel. (1) Beginning July 1, 1999, the department is required, when purchasing new vehicles for any use by a state agency, to ensure that not less than 5% of all new vehicles purchased in each fiscal year are powered by renewable fuels.

(2) Whenever an agency of state government requests the department to purchase a vehicle for the agency or on the agency's behalf, the agency director or the director's designee must have the opportunity to specifically request that the vehicle to be purchased is powered by renewable fuels.

(3) If the governor or lieutenant governor is provided a vehicle for official state business, the vehicle must be powered by renewable fuels.

(4) For the purposes of this section, "renewable fuels" includes gasohol, as defined in 2-17-414, and other fuels, referred to by various names, that are composed of at least 85% anhydrous ethanol.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 18, and the provisions of Title 18 apply to [section 1].

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 1999.

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