Bill Text: PA HB302 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishing the Keystone Transit Program; and providing for an interfund transfer to the Department of Environmental Protection for a competitive grant program for the transition of small mass transit bus fleets to compressed natural gas.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 28-7)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-12-18 - Laid on the table [HB302 Detail]
Download: Pennsylvania-2013-HB302-Introduced.html
| PRINTER'S NO. 540 |
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. | 302 | Session of 2013 |
INTRODUCED BY MOUL, AUMENT, BAKER, CAUSER, COHEN, CUTLER, DENLINGER, EVANKOVICH, GRELL, GROVE, C. HARRIS, HICKERNELL, KAUFFMAN, F. KELLER, M. K. KELLER, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MARSHALL, MATZIE, MICOZZIE, MILLER, PICKETT, QUINN, ROCK, SAYLOR, SIMMONS, SWANGER, WATSON, GINGRICH AND GABLER, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
REFERRED TO COMMITEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013
AN ACT
1Establishing the Keystone Transit Program; and providing a
2transfer of funds from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund to the
3Department of Environmental Protection for a competitive
4grant program for the transition of small mass transit bus
5fleets to compressed natural gas.
6The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7hereby enacts as follows:
8Section 1. Short title.
9This act shall be known and may be cited as the Keystone
10Transit Act.
11Section 2. Definitions.
12The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
13have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
14context clearly indicates otherwise:
15"Department." The Department of Environmental Protection of
16the Commonwealth.
17"Mass transit authority." An operator of regularly scheduled
1transportation that is available to the general public and is
2provided according to published schedules along designated
3published routes with specified stopping points for the taking
4on and discharging of passengers. The term does not include
5exclusive ride taxi services, charter or sightseeing services,
6nonpublic transportation or school bus or limousine services.
7"Program." The Keystone Transit Program.
8"Small mass transit authority." A mass transit authority
9located in this Commonwealth that does not exceed 245,000
10revenue vehicle hours for two consecutive years.
11Section 3. Keystone Transit Program.
12(a) Establishment.--The department shall establish and
13administer the Keystone Transit Program.
14(b) Purpose.--The program is established in order to
15decrease emissions from mass transit buses by utilizing natural
16gas as a vehicle fuel.
17(c) Transfer of funds.--The State Treasurer shall transfer
18from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund to the department the sum of
19$5,000,000 to fund the program.
20(d) Use of funds.--The sum of $5,000,000 shall be used to
21fund competitive grants available to small mass transit
22authorities for the conversion of buses to run on solely
23compressed natural gas as a fuel source or to purchase buses
24which use solely compressed natural gas as a fuel source.
25(e) Application process.--
26(1) A mass transit authority must complete and submit to
27the department a keystone transit grant application.
28(2) Approved applications must obligate the mass transit
29authority to contract with a private company:
30(i) to build exclusively with private funds; and
1(ii) to maintain and operate any new compressed
2natural gas fueling facility necessary to support
3compressed natural gas buses purchased with funds
4received under this act.
5(3) The term "operate" as used in this subsection shall
6not include the actual act of fueling buses.
7(f) Eligible costs.--
8(1) Grant funds received under this act shall be
9eligible for:
10(i) Federally assisted bus purchases and shall be
11limited to the total percentage of the State and local
12match portion applied only to the incremental cost of a
13new compressed natural gas bus or compressed natural gas
14bus conversion.
15(ii) Nonfederally assisted bus purchases and shall
16be limited to 50% of the total incremental cost of a new
17compressed natural gas bus or compressed natural gas bus
18conversion.
19(2) The incremental cost shall be capped at $50,000 for
20buses which have a gross vehicle weight rating over 26,000
21pounds and $25,000 for buses with a gross vehicle weight
22rating of 26,000 pounds and under.
23(3) Buses with a gross vehicle weight rating of 14,000
24pounds or less shall be ineligible.
25(4) Priority shall be given to those applications which
26provide for public access to compressed natural gas vehicle
27fueling dispensers.
28(g) Grant program.--The department shall establish a formula
29and method for awarding of grants under the program consistent
30with this act.
1(h) Appeal process.--Applicants that are not awarded grants
2under this act shall not have the right to a hearing or the
3issuance of an adjudication under section 4 of the act of July
413, 1988 (P.L.530, No.94), known as the Environmental Hearing
5Board Act, regarding the department's decision.
6Section 20. Effective date.
7This act shall take effect in 60 days.
