Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 49 Third Substitute (2015GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Handy, S.

Final action

House/ filed 3/12/2015

Outcome

Failed / filed without passage

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• allows the State Board of Education to award a grant to a school district or charter school to:
• replace a school bus manufactured before 2002 with a new school bus that uses CNG, propane, or clean diesel fuel;
• install an alternative fuel fueling station for a school bus that uses alternative fuel and that may be accessed by a governmental entity or the public to fuel an alternative fuel vehicle; or
• retrofit a bus shop to service and maintain a school bus that uses alternative fuel;
• requires the State Board of Education to make rules related to the awarding of a grant, including rules that:
• specify criteria for selecting a grant recipient; and
• require a grant recipient to provide funding matches in an amount that is greater than or equal to the amount of a grant received; and
• requires the State Board of Education to:
• facilitate training for bus drivers and bus shop technicians on the operation and maintenance of a school bus that uses alternative fuel; and
• make a report to the Legislature.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

CLEAN FUEL SCHOOL BUSES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Stephen G. Handy
Senate Sponsor: 
____________
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill provides grants to replace school buses and to create infrastructure for
alternative fuel vehicles.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ allows the State Board of Education to award a grant to a school district or charter
school to:
• replace a school bus manufactured before 2002 with a new school bus that uses
CNG, propane, or clean diesel fuel;
• install an alternative fuel fueling station for a school bus that uses alternative
fuel and that may be accessed by a governmental entity or the public to fuel an
alternative fuel vehicle; or
• retrofit a bus shop to service and maintain a school bus that uses alternative
fuel;
▸ requires the State Board of Education to make rules related to the awarding of a
grant, including rules that:
• specify criteria for selecting a grant recipient; and
• require a grant recipient to provide funding matches in an amount that is greater
than or equal to the amount of a grant received; and
▸ requires the State Board of Education to:
• facilitate training for bus drivers and bus shop technicians on the operation and
maintenance of a school bus that uses alternative fuel; and
• make a report to the Legislature.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2016:
▸ to the State Board of Education - Utah State Office of Education - Initiative
Programs as a one-time appropriation:
• from the Education Fund, One-time, $20,000,000.
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
53A-17a-127.5
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53A-17a-127.5
 is enacted to read:
 53A-17a-127.5.
Grants for school buses and alternative fuel infrastructure.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Alternative fuel" means CNG or propane.
(b) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
(c) "Clean diesel fuel" means diesel fuel with a sulfur content of no more than 15 parts
per million (ppm).
(d) "CNG" means compressed natural gas.
(2) The board may award a grant to a school district or charter school to:
(a) replace a school bus manufactured before 2002 with a new school bus that uses
CNG, propane, or clean diesel fuel;
(b) install an alternative fuel fueling station:
(i) for a school bus that uses alternative fuel; and
(ii) that may be accessed by a governmental entity or the public to fuel an alternative
fuel vehicle; or
(c) retrofit a bus shop to service and maintain a school bus that uses alternative fuel.
(3) The board shall make rules:
(a) establishing procedures for applying for and awarding a grant;
(b) specifying criteria for selecting a grant recipient;
(c) requiring reporting of grant money expenditures and evidence that a new school bus
purchased with grant money has replaced a school bus manufactured before 2002; and
(d) requiring a grant recipient to provide matching funds in an amount that is greater
than or equal to the amount of a grant received under this section.
(4) The board shall appoint a committee that includes representatives of school
districts, charter schools, and the board to review grant applications and make
recommendations to the board for the award of grants that meet the requirements of this section
and rules adopted under Subsection (3).
(5) Through the state superintendent of public instruction, the board shall facilitate
training for bus drivers and bus shop technicians on the operation and maintenance of a school
bus that uses alternative fuel.
(6) On or before November 1, 2015, the board shall submit a report to the Public
Education Appropriations Subcommittee that:
(a) describes the grants awarded under this section; and
(b) includes recommendations regarding continuation of the grant program.
Section 2. 
Appropriation.
Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for
the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2016, the following sums of money
are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts
previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated. These sums of money are in
addition to any amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2016.
To State Board of Education - Utah State Office of Education - Initiative Programs
From Education Fund, One-time
$20,000,000
Schedule of Programs:
Contracts and Grants - Clean Fuel School
Buses and Infrastructure $20,000,000
The Legislature intends that of the $20,000,000 appropriated for the Contracts and
Grants - Clean Fuel School Buses and Infrastructure Program, the State Board of Education
may expend:
(1) up to $13,000,000 for grants for new school buses pursuant to Section
53A-17a-127.5
; and
(2) up to $7,000,000 for grants for alternative fuel fueling stations and bus shop
retrofits pursuant to Section 
53A-17a-127.5
.
Section 3. 
Effective date.
(1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), this bill takes effect on May 12, 2015.
(2) Section 2, Appropriation, takes effect on July 1, 2015.
Legislative Review Note
 as of 7-16-14 8:53 AM
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel