Bill Text: MS SB2111 | 2015 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: CNG school bus purchase grants; authorize pilot program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2015-02-12 - Died On Calendar [SB2111 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-SB2111-Comm_Sub.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Senator(s) Burton
Senate Bill 2111
(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS SCHOOL BUS GRANT PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE PROGRAM WITH GRANT FUNDS TO PURCHASE FOUR SCHOOL BUSES PER DISTRICT THAT ARE FUELED WITH COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS AND RELATED FUELING INFRASTRUCTURE; TO PROVIDE THE AMOUNT OF SUCH GRANTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The State Department of Education shall establish a compressed natural gas school bus grant pilot program to provide school districts in the program with grant funds to purchase four (4) school buses per district that are fueled with compressed natural gas and related fueling infrastructure. The amount of the grants shall be One Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($180,000.00) per district.
(2) The State Board of Education shall select one (1) school district in each of the four (4) Mississippi congressional districts, pursuant to the application process provided for in this section, to participate in the pilot program.
(3) Each district that wishes to participate in the pilot program must submit a formal application to the State Department of Education that shall include, but not be limited to, a plan for the acquisition of four (4) school buses fueled by compressed natural gas and related fueling infrastructure.
(4) The Legislature shall appropriate funds necessary to support the pilot program authorized in this section.
(5) (a) The State Board of Education shall be responsible for the regular and ongoing evaluation of the pilot program and may contract for such evaluation. Included in any such evaluations shall be an analysis of fuel costs and any fuel cost savings associated with the use of school buses fueled with compressed natural gas.
(b) The State Board of Education shall report to the Legislature in the 2018 Regular Session on the desirability of extending this assistance program statewide.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.
