SF 2251

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/24/2017 09:27am

A bill for an act
relating to environment; encouraging low-emission and zero-emission school
buses; providing grants for emission reduction activities; providing for disposition
of certain settlement revenue; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law
in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [116.083] LOW-EMISSION AND ZERO-EMISSION SCHOOL BUS
PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given:
new text end

new text begin (1) "diesel emissions reduction program" means the grant program administered by the
commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency pursuant to the federal Diesel Emissions
Reduction Act;
new text end

new text begin (2) "low-emission or zero-emission school bus" means a school bus designated as such
by the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency and may include a propane-powered
bus, compressed natural gas-powered bus, and electric or electric-hybrid bus;
new text end

new text begin (3) "retrofit" means to modify an engine to reduce the emissions of a diesel-powered
school bus;
new text end

new text begin (4) "school" means a Minnesota school district or Minnesota charter school; and
new text end

new text begin (5) "school bus" means a type A, B, C, or D school bus under section 169.011, subdivision
71.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grants to reduce diesel emissions. new text end

new text begin (a) A school may apply to the commissioner
of the Pollution Control Agency for a grant to reduce its diesel emissions. The grant may
be used to retrofit or replace an existing diesel engine consistent with the diesel emissions
reduction program or to purchase a new school bus that is a low-emission or zero-emission
school bus. The commissioner may prioritize grants based on the expected reduction in
emissions.
new text end

new text begin (b) No school may receive a grant of more than $100,000 per year under this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grants for electric school bus pilot project. new text end

new text begin A school may apply to the
commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency for a grant to purchase an electric or
electric-hybrid school bus as part of a pilot project. The pilot project must include a plan to
evaluate the efficacy of an electric or electric-hybrid school bus. The commissioner may
award one pilot grant under this subdivision in an amount not to exceed $500,000. A school
that receives a grant under this subdivision must prominently post its work plan and the
results of the pilot project on the school's Web site.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Disposition of settlement revenue. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding section 16A.013 or
115A.06 or any other law to the contrary, the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency
must deposit money received from the mitigation trust fund into an account in the special
revenue fund. For the purposes of this section, "mitigation trust fund" means the trust fund
that was created to fund proposals to mitigate pollution and established as partial settlement
for Clean Air Act violations in the Volkswagen Clean Air Act settlement case in the United
States District Court for the District of Northern California.
new text end

new text begin (b) $2,000,000 each year is appropriated from the account under paragraph (a) to the
commissioner for grants under this section to reduce school bus diesel emissions.
new text end

new text begin (c) Any grants made under this section must be consistent with the terms of the mitigation
trust fund.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day after the trustee for the mitigation
trust fund has approved the state of Minnesota's proposed mitigation actions, found them
to be eligible for funds from the mitigation trust fund, and released the funds to the
commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency. The commissioner must notify the revisor
of statutes when funds are released.
new text end