Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 125 First Substitute (2023GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Wilson, C.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/23/2023

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• designates the ASPIRE Engineering Research Center at Utah State University as the lead research center for strategic planning for electrification of transportation infrastructure in this state;
• creates a steering committee and requires the creation of an industry advisory board to assist in the direction of the research center and initiative;
• provides duties of the steering committee, industry advisory board, and the research center;
• requires reports on the proposed action plan and goals of the initiative; and
• provides for a sunset review of the initiative.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Chris H. Wilson
House Sponsor: 
Jefferson Moss
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill designates the ASPIRE Engineering Research Center at Utah State University
as the lead research center for strategic planning for electrification of transportation
infrastructure and requires certain actions.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ designates the ASPIRE Engineering Research Center at Utah State University as the
lead research center for strategic planning for electrification of transportation
infrastructure in this state;
▸ creates a steering committee and requires the creation of an industry advisory board
to assist in the direction of the research center and initiative;
▸ provides duties of the steering committee, industry advisory board, and the research
center;
▸ requires reports on the proposed action plan and goals of the initiative; and
▸ provides for a sunset review of the initiative.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2024:
▸ to Utah State University -- Education and General -- Education and General as an
ongoing appropriation:
• from the Income Tax Fund, $2,100,000.
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63I-1-253
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapters 10, 30, 31, 172, 173, 194,
218, 224, 229, 236, 254, 274, and 414
ENACTS:
53B-18-1801
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
53B-18-1802
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
53B-18-1803
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
53B-18-1804
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
53B-18-1805
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
53B-18-1806
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53B-18-1801
 is enacted to read:
 53B-18-1801.
Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) "Department of Environmental Quality" means the Department of Environmental
Quality created in Section 
19-1-104
.
(2) "Department of Transportation" means the Department of Transportation created in
Section 
72-1-201
.
(3) "Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity" means the Governor's Office of
Economic Opportunity created in Section 
63N-1a-301
.
(4) "Industry advisory board" means the industry advisory board created in accordance
with Section 
53B-18-1804
.
(5) "Initiative" means the strategic planning and development initiative to guide the
transition to an electrified and intelligent transportation system in this state.
(6) "Large public transit district" means the same as that term is defined in Section
17B-2a-802
.
(7) "Office of Energy Development" means the Office of Energy Development created
in Section 
79-6-401
.
(8) "Project director" means the project director of the research center appointed under
Subsection 
53B-18-1802
(2)(b).
(9) "Research center" means the ASPIRE Engineering Research Center at Utah State
University.
(10) "Steering committee" means the Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure
Steering Committee created in Section 
53B-18-1803
.
Section 2. Section 
53B-18-1802
 is enacted to read:
 53B-18-1802.
Research enter -- Designation -- Duties.
(1) The ASPIRE Engineering Research Center at Utah State University is designated as
the lead research center to coordinate and lead the initiative described in this part.
(2) The research center shall:
(a) direct and carry out the mission of the initiative;
(b) appoint a project director to oversee the initiative; and
(c) provide administrative and staff support to the steering committee and industry
advisory board.
(3) The project director shall:
(a) oversee the operations of the initiative; and
(b) propose to the steering committee the expenditure of funds appropriated by the
Legislature to carry out the duties under this part.
Section 3. Section 
53B-18-1803
 is enacted to read:
 53B-18-1803.
Steering committee -- Creation -- Duties.
(1) There is created the Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Steering
Committee.
(2) The Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Steering Committee consists of
the following members:
(a) the executive director of the Department of Transportation, or the executive
director's designee;
(b) the executive director of the Department of Environmental Quality, or the executive
director's designee;
(c) the director of the Office of Energy Development, or the director's designee;
(d) the executive director of a large public transit district, or the executive director's
designee;
(e) the executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, or the
executive director's designee;
(f) one representative of a major electrical power provider in the state, appointed by the
governor; and
(g) the chair of the industry advisory board created in Section 
53B-18-180
.
(3) The steering committee member representing the Department of Transportation
shall serve as the chair of the steering committee.
(4) The steering committee shall:
(a) provide direction to the project director on the nature and priorities of the strategic
planning and development initiative;
(b) assist the project director in the development of a strategic action plan and
implementation related to the electrification of transportation infrastructure;
(c) approve annual reports on the strategic planning and development initiative as
required in Section 
53B-18-1806
;
(d) consider and approve the budget proposed by the project director for the
expenditure of funds for the initiative; and
(e) review expenditures authorized by the project director made before October 1,
2023.
(5) The steering committee shall convene no later than October 1, 2023.
Section 4. Section 
53B-18-1804
 is enacted to read:
 53B-18-1804.
Industry advisory board -- Duties.
(1) The research center shall create an industry advisory board with members selected
from the following relevant sectors:
(a) electrical power providers;
(b) electric bus manufacturers;
(c) electric vehicle manufacturers;
(d) electric passenger or freight rail manufacturers;
(e) electric aircraft manufacturers;
(f) electric freight truck manufacturers;
(g) high-capacity battery manufacturers;
(h) large fiber-optic or high-speed Internet providers;
(i) transportation infrastructure companies;
(j) charging component, systems, or network providers;
(k) smart or artificial intelligence-integrated infrastructure providers; and
(l) any other sector that the research center determines is substantially necessary to
fulfilling the initiative goals.
(2) The industry advisory board members shall designate the chair and other officers of
the industry advisory board.
(3) The industry advisory board shall:
(a) assist the project director in operating the strategic planning and development
initiative with insights and needs from across the industries;
(b) develop a chapter to be included in each annual report that describes the industry
support and perspectives relative to the analysis and recommendations provided in the annual
report; and
(c) provide at least one representative to participate in briefings to interim or
appropriations committees of the Legislature.
Section 5. Section 
53B-18-1805
 is enacted to read:
 53B-18-1805.
Duties of the project director.
(1) The project director and the steering committee shall consult the following parties
in developing and carrying out the initiative:
(a) representatives of each sector described in the industry advisory board membership
in Subsection 
53B-18-1804
(1), regardless of whether that sector is actually represented on the
industry advisory board;
(b) institutions of higher education, including institutions of technical education, both
inside and outside this state;
(c) the chairs of the following committees of the Legislature:
(i) the Infrastructure and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee;
(ii) the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee; and
(iii) the Transportation Interim Committee; and
(d) any other persons or entities the steering committee determines are relevant or
necessary to fulfilling the stated mission.
(2) The project director, in consultation with the steering committee and the industry
advisory board, shall lead an outreach and promotional effort to:
(a) build awareness among stakeholders, industry partners, federal agencies, and the
state's congressional delegation of the state's efforts to be a national leader in electrifying the
state's transportation system; and
(b) attract industry partners and industry and federal investment to the state to design,
develop, and deliver systems to promote and implement the initiative.
(3) The project director shall:
(a) oversee the operations of the initiative; and
(b) propose to the steering committee the program budget for the expenditure of funds
appropriated by the Legislature to carry out the duties under this part.
(4) (a) The project director may, in accordance with this part, and subject to this
Subsection (4), expend funds appropriated by the Legislature.
(b) (i) Before October 1, 2023, the project director may not expend more than 25% of
the annual project budget.
(ii) At the first meeting of the steering committee, the project director shall:
(A) provide a detailed account to the steering committee for all expenditures made
before October 1, 2023; and
(B) present a budget proposal for the remainder of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.
(iii) Before October 1, 2023, the project director may expend funds for the following
purposes:
(A) establish necessary and time-sensitive groundwork for development of the vision
and strategic objective of the initiative;
(B) acquisition of materials needed for the initiative; and
(C) costs to hire and pay salaries of staff.
(c) Except as described in Subsection (4)(b), the project director:
(i) shall propose an annual budget for the initiative; and
(ii) may not expend funds appropriated to the research center outside of the approved
budget without approval of the steering committee.
Section 6. Section 
53B-18-1806
 is enacted to read:
 53B-18-1806.
Project development and strategic objectives -- Reporting
requirements.
(1) (a) The research center shall develop and define an action plan for the
electrification of transportation infrastructure in this state.
(b) The research center shall provide a report of the action plan that includes:
(i) a description of the ideal electrified transportation system and incremental steps to
implement the action plan over 10-year, 20-year, and 30-year time horizons, including a
description of a transportation system that:
(A) provides intelligent coordination for vehicular traffic and charging individually and
collectively into a dynamically communicative transportation system that links to and
coordinates with the electric grid;
(B) integrates across and supports all modes of transportation and vehicle classes in
complementary ways;
(C) integrates with hydrogen and renewable natural gas generation, storage, grid
support, and fuel cell vehicles in complementary ways; and
(D) provides improved air quality, reduced cost to move people and goods, and new
jobs and economic growth in the state;
(ii) strategic objectives in each element of the action plan above that are necessary to
realize the action plan;
(iii) an initial description of changes needed to realize the action plan in each of the
following sectors across the ecosystem:
(A) electrical power generation, distribution, and utility-scale energy storage
infrastructure and capacity, including reliability, cost, and availability standards;
(B) interconnected smart charging infrastructure, intelligent transportation systems,
control systems, and communications systems to facilitate the transition to electrified
transportation;
(C) private surface transportation, including passenger vehicles, freight trucks, and
freight trains;
(D) public surface transportation, including passenger vehicles, buses, and trains;
(E) air transportation, including private commercial aircraft and unmanned aircraft
systems;
(F) vehicles that operate off-highway, including construction, mining, and agriculture;
(G) charging technology, solutions, and systems, including charging stations and
shared use of infrastructure across modes of transportation and vehicle classes;
(H) workforce, including analysis of the capacity and types of education, vocations,
trades, and certifications necessary in each relevant sector to develop the local workforce
needed to accomplish the vision; and
(I) any other sector that the steering committee determines is substantially necessary to
fulfilling the stated mission;
(iv) identification of key gaps in the ecosystem from the sectors and industries
described in this Subsection (1)(b) that serve as priorities for near term innovation and
investment;
(v) evaluation of risk and vulnerability of relevant supply chains, including natural
resources to ensure stability and availability; and
(vi) an accounting of funds appropriated to or received by the research center, and any
expenditure of those funds.
(c) Before August 1, 2024, the research center shall report on the action plan described
in this Subsection (1) to the Infrastructure and General Government Appropriations
Subcommittee of the Legislature.
(2) Beginning in 2025, before August 1 of each year, the research center shall provide
an annual report to the Infrastructure and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee
of the Legislature, including:
(a) an updated and prioritized list of strategic objectives identified in the initial report
described in Subsection (1)(b);
(b) any actionable goals established or recommended by the research center;
(c) a prioritized list of steps to accomplish the goals and strategic objectives identified
by the research center;
(d) metrics to measure the effectiveness of any goals or strategic objectives and related
analysis;
(e) the research center's progress and effort in developing a long-range strategy for
implementation of the action plan;
(f) the research center's efforts in and results of outreach to relevant industry,
government, and investment sectors;
(g) any recommendations on potential legislation to implement the action plan; and
(h) an accounting of funds appropriated to or received by the research center, and any
expenditure of those funds.
(3) Before November 30, 2027, the Transportation Interim Committee shall consider
whether to continue the initiative as described in this part or allow the repeal of this part as
described in Section 
63I-1-253
.
Section 7. Section 
63I-1-253
 is amended to read:
63I-1-253.
Repeal dates: Titles 53 through 53G.
(1) Section 
53-2a-105
, which creates the Emergency Management Administration
Council, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(2) Sections 
53-2a-1103
 and 
53-2a-1104
, which create the Search and Rescue Advisory
Board, are repealed July 1, 2027.
(3) Section 
53-5-703
, which creates the Concealed Firearm Review Board, is repealed
July 1, 2023.
(4) Section 
53B-6-105.5
, which creates the Technology Initiative Advisory Board, is
repealed July 1, 2024.
(5) Section 
53B-7-709
, regarding five-year performance goals for the Utah System of
Higher Education is repealed July 1, 2027.
(6) Title 53B, Chapter 17, Part 11, USTAR Researchers, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(7) Section 
53B-17-1203
, which creates the SafeUT and School Safety Commission, is
repealed January 1, 2025.
(8) Title 53B, Chapter 18, Part 16, USTAR Researchers, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(9) Title 53B, Chapter 18, Part 18, Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure
Research Center, is repealed on July 1, 2028.
[
(9)
] 
(10)
 Subsection 
53C-3-203
(4)(b)(vii), which provides for the distribution of
money from the Land Exchange Distribution Account to the Geological Survey for test wells
and other hydrologic studies in the West Desert, is repealed July 1, 2030.
[
(10)
] 
(11)
 [
Subsection
] 
Subsections
53E-3-503
(5) and (6), which create coordinating
councils for youth in custody, are repealed July 1, 2027.
[
(11)
] 
(12)
 In relation to a standards review committee, on January 1, 2028:
(a) in Subsection 
53E-4-202
(8), the language "by a standards review committee and the
recommendations of a standards review committee established under Section 
53E-4-203
" is
repealed; and
(b) Section 
53E-4-203
 is repealed.
[
(12)
] 
(13)
 Section 
53E-4-402
, which creates the State Instructional Materials
Commission, is repealed July 1, 2027.
[
(13)
] 
(14)
 Title 53E, Chapter 6, Part 5, Utah Professional Practices Advisory
Commission, is repealed July 1, 2023.
[
(14)
] 
(15)
 Section 
53F-2-420
, which creates the Intensive Services Special Education
Pilot Program, is repealed July 1, 2024.
[
(15)
] 
(16)
 Section 
53F-5-203
 is repealed July 1, 2024.
[
(16)
] 
(17)
 Section 
53F-5-213
 is repealed July 1, 2023.
[
(17)
] 
(18)
 Section 
53F-5-214
, in relation to a grant for professional learning, is
repealed July 1, 2025.
[
(18)
] 
(19)
 Section 
53F-5-215
, in relation to an elementary teacher preparation grant, is
repealed July 1, 2025.
[
(19)
] 
(20)
 Section 
53F-5-219
, which creates the Local [
INnovations
] 
Innovations
Civics Education Pilot Program, is repealed on July 1, 2025.
[
(20)
] 
(21)
 Subsection 
53F-9-203
(7), which creates the Charter School Revolving
Account Committee, is repealed July 1, 2024.
[
(21)
] 
(22)
 Subsections 
53G-4-608
(2)(b) and (4)(b), related to the Utah Seismic Safety
Commission, are repealed January 1, 2025.
[
(22)
] 
(23)
 Subsection 
53G-8-211
(5), regarding referrals of a minor to court for a class
C misdemeanor, is repealed July 1, 2027.
[
(23)
] 
(24)
 Section 
53G-9-212
, Drinking water quality in schools, is repealed July 1,
2027.
[
(24)
] 
(25)
 Title 53G, Chapter 10, Part 6, Education Innovation Program, is repealed
July 1, 2027.
Section 8. 
Appropriation.
The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
2023, and ending June 30, 2024. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
fiscal year 2024. Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures
Act, the Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts
indicated for the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
ITEM 1
To Utah State University - Education and General
From Income Tax Fund
2,100,000
Schedule of Programs:
Education and General 2,100,000