HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 9

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE FLEET.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 71, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 7109. Procurement of state-owned vehicles; zero emission vehicle fleet plan.

(a) In pursuit of a zero emission vehicle state fleet, the State shall ensure the following:

(1) Fifteen percent of passenger vehicles and light duty vehicles owned and operated by the State shall be zero emission vehicles by 2026.

(2) Twenty-five percent of passenger vehicles and light duty vehicles owned and operated by the State shall be zero emission vehicles by 2029.

(3) Fifty percent of passenger vehicles and light duty vehicles owned and operated by the State shall be zero emission vehicles by 2032.

(4) All passenger vehicles and light duty vehicles owned and operated by the State shall be zero emission vehicles by 2040.

(c) If zero emission vehicle technology improves faster than expected, the State shall make every effort to surpass the goals required by subsection (a) of this section.

(d) The Office of Management and Budget may grant exemptions from the requirements of this section to the extent that the vehicles required by this section are not available or do not meet the specific needs of an agency.

(e) This section shall not apply to the following vehicles:

(1) Law-enforcement vehicles and vessels of State agency law-enforcement personnel.

(2) All vehicles owned or operated by the Department of Education, school districts, and charter schools.

(3) Vehicles designated for take home use prior to the year 2035.

(f) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Passenger vehicles” and “light duty vehicles” shall mean as defined in state regulations promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

(2) “Zero emission vehicle” means a battery electric vehicle, a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with a battery range that is sufficient to meet the vehicle’s regular mileage between charges.

SYNOPSIS

This Act requires that all passenger vehicles and light duty vehicles owned and operated by the State be zero emission vehicles by 2040 by requiring increasing volumes of zero emission vehicles every few years.

The Office of Management and Budget shall be authorized to grant exemptions to these requirements. Law enforcement vehicles and vessels of State agency law-enforcement personnel; vehicles owned by the Department of Education, school districts, and charter schools; and designated take home vehicles shall be exempt from these requirements as well.