SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2943        FILED ON: 1/12/2022

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Cynthia Stone Creem

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act promoting access to zero-emission school buses.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2943        FILED ON: 1/12/2022

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act promoting access to zero-emission school buses.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 448 of the acts of 2016 is hereby amended by inserting after section 6 the following section:-

SECTION 6A. (a) As used in this section, the following word shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-

“Zero-emission school bus”, a school bus that produces no engine exhaust carbon emissions.

(b) The department of energy resources, in conjunction with the Massachusetts clean energy technology center, shall, subject to appropriation, establish a program to provide grants or other financial incentives to assist municipalities and regional school districts in purchasing or leasing zero-emission school buses. The grants or other financial incentives may be used for the purchase or lease of zero-emission school buses or for the purchase and installation of school bus charging stations and related infrastructure.

(c) The department of energy resources may promulgate regulations to administer the program established under this section. At least once per calendar year, the department of energy resources shall provide outreach about the zero-emission school bus incentive program established under this section to municipalities and regional school districts where the median household income is below the commonwealth’s median or where the 5-year average rate of emergency department visits for childhood (ages 5-14 years) asthmas is greater than the commonwealth’s 5-year average rate.

(d) The commissioner shall publish and regularly update data regarding program usage including, but not limited to: (i) the number and amount of grants or incentives provided; (ii) the make, model and type of school bus for which the rebate or incentive was issued; (iii) the municipality or regional school district in which the school bus operates; and (iv) the estimated total greenhouse gas emissions reductions achieved from the grants or incentives issued.

(e) When awarding grant or other financial incentives under this section, the department of energy resources shall prioritize municipalities and regional school districts where the median household income is below the commonwealth’s median or where the 5-year average rate of emergency department visits for childhood (ages 5-14 years) asthmas is greater than the commonwealth’s 5-year average rate.

SECTION 2. The operational services division, in conjunction with the department of energy resources and the Massachusetts clean energy technology center, shall establish a statewide contract through which municipalities and regional school districts can purchase or lease zero-emission school buses.