Amendment ID: S2819-26

Amendment 26

Study on replacing forgone gas tax collection to the Commonwealth to ensure the state's bond rating will not be negatively impacted for all new vehicles to be zero emission vehicles

Messrs. Tarr and O'Connor move that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following new section:-

"SECTION_. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary the department of transportation shall provide a projection on fuel tax collection that will be forgone and study the development and implementation of a program to assess owners of zero emission motor vehicles an annual user fee to be paid in lieu of the gas tax in order to ensure road and bridge repairs of the Commonwealth continue to be met. This annual fee shall be deposited in the Commonwealth Transportation Fund established under section 2ZZZ of chapter 29 of the General Laws; provided, however, that any such monies shall be subject to appropriation.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no later than one year from the passage of this Act, the department of transportation shall report to the general court the initial result of the study, including, but not limited to, the feasibility of permanently assessing an annual fee on zero emission vehicles; the potential impact on revenue for transportation project funding through gas tax levies due to the sales and lease of zero emission vehicles; an evaluation of the impacts of such a fee on the economy, the environment, and traffic congestion; a comparison to other potential alternatives or supplements to the gas tax; and its initial recommendations together with legislation necessary to implement its recommendations by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, and to the joint committee on transportation."