HF 1832

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to renewable fuels; providing that vehicles
regularly fueled with E85 fuels qualify for access to
high-occupancy vehicle lanes; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2004, section 160.93, by adding a
subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 160.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [160.835] RENEWABLE FUELS; E85 USE
ENCOURAGED.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin E85 use in certain vehicles; voluntary
certification. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of transportation, in
consultation with the commissioners of agriculture and public
safety, shall establish a voluntary certification procedure
ensuring that a vehicle designated by its manufacture as a
flex-fuel vehicle will be operated by the vehicle owner or
operator on E85 fuel, as defined in section 296A.01, subdivision
19, whenever E85 is reasonably available for purchase by the
owner or driver. The commissioner of public safety must issue
an E85 identification sticker to the owner of the vehicle for
attachment in a specified location on the vehicle windshield.
The commissioner of public safety must renew the sticker
annually on the same schedule that registration of the vehicle
is renewed.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of transportation may audit recipients
of E85 stickers to determine compliance with the fuel use
requirements of paragraph (a).
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Flex-fuel vehicles operated on e85. new text end

new text begin The
commissioner of transportation must allow an operator of a
flex-fuel vehicle certified by the commissioner of agriculture
to be operated primarily with E85 to use any designated
high-occupancy vehicle lane on the trunk highway system,
regardless of occupancy requirements established for other types
of vehicles.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 160.93, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end

new text begin Fee waiver for flex-fuel vehicles operated on
e85. new text end

new text begin Unless otherwise prohibited by federal law or regulation,
the commissioner must allow an owner or operator of a
single-occupant, flex-fuel vehicle fueled with E85 as defined in
section 296A.01, subdivision 19, to operate the vehicle on any
designated high-occupancy vehicle lane on the trunk highway
system without imposing a user fee. If otherwise prohibited,
the commissioner must seek a waiver of any fee requirement.
new text end