HF 4150

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/04/2020 03:31pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; providing a grant program to encourage the purchase of
electric buses; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin ELECTRIC BUS GRANT PROGRAM.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of transportation.
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new text begin (c) "Electric bus" means a motor vehicle:
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new text begin (1) used to transport persons;
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new text begin (2) designed to carry more than 15 passengers, including the driver; and
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new text begin (3) that meets the definition of "electric motor vehicle" in Minnesota Statutes, section
169.011, subdivision 26a, paragraph (a).
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new text begin (d) "Electric vehicle charging station" means infrastructure that recharges an electric
vehicle's batteries by connecting the electric vehicle to:
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new text begin (1) a level 2 charger that provides a 240-volt alternating current power source; or
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new text begin (2) a DC fast charger that has an electric output of 20 kilowatts or greater.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must establish an electric bus grant program
in the Department of Transportation to provide financial assistance to encourage the purchase
of electric buses.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Eligible applicants. new text end

new text begin A transit provider eligible to receive financial assistance
under Minnesota Statutes, section 174.24 or 473.388, is eligible to file an application for a
grant under this section.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin An applicant seeking a grant under this section must submit an
application to the commissioner on a form developed by the commissioner. The commissioner
must develop procedures to (1) solicit and review applications, and (2) make grant awards
under this section.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Eligible expenditures. new text end

new text begin Grant awards made under this section must be used
only to:
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new text begin (1) assist the purchase of an electric bus by paying the difference between the cost of
an electric bus and a comparable nonelectric bus;
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new text begin (2) purchase and install an electric vehicle charging system for an electric bus funded
by a grant award made under this section; and
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new text begin (3) pay the Department of Transportation's reasonable costs to administer this section.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Grant award; preference. new text end

new text begin When awarding grants, the commissioner must
give preference to applications in which the electric utility providing electric service to the
location the proposed electric bus operates from has made a commitment to pay the cost of
one or more electric vehicle charging stations intended for use by an electric bus funded by
a grant award made under this section.
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new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Limitation. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must not award more than ... grants under this
section to a single applicant.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of transportation for the purpose of administering the electric bus grant program described
in section 1. This is a onetime appropriation. This appropriation is available until December
30, 2023.
new text end