SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2944        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 reducing the emissions of transportation network companies and private vehicle fleets.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2944        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 reducing the emissions of transportation network companies and private vehicle fleets.

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 1591/2 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following new section:-

Section 12. The division shall establish vehicle electrification and greenhouse gas emission requirements for transportation network companies that are substantially equivalent to California’s duly promulgated Clean Miles Standard regulation, codified in section 2490 of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations. Such requirements shall take effect in the commonwealth no later than January 1, 2023.

SECTION 2. Chapter 448 of the acts of 2016 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 6 the following sections:-

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

“Motor vehicle”, as defined in section 1 of chapter 90.

“Motor vehicle fleet”, a set of at least twenty-five motor vehicles under the same ownership or control registered in the commonwealth.

“Zero-emission vehicle”, a motor vehicle that produces no engine exhaust carbon emissions.

(b) The department of energy resources, with input from the department of transportation, shall: (i) establish goals for the conversion of private motor vehicle fleets to zero-emission vehicles; (ii) subject to appropriation, design and implement an incentive program to support the conversion of private motor vehicle fleets to zero-emission vehicles; provided, that should an owner of a motor vehicle fleet fail to comply with the program’s requirements, the department of energy resources shall remove the incentive for that owner and require reimbursement of the incentive; and (iii) in conjunction with distribution companies, as that term is defined in section 1 of chapter 164, provide education, training, and technical assistance to owners of private motor vehicle fleets to support the conversion of their fleets to zero-emission vehicles.

(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 program to owners of private motor vehicle fleets based in municipalities 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 department of energy resources shall publish and regularly update data regarding incentive usage including, but not limited to: (i) the number and amount of grants or incentives provided; (ii) the make, model and type of vehicle for which the rebate or incentive was issued; (iii) the zip code in which the vehicle is registered; 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 private motor vehicle fleets that operate in municipalities 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.