EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXIS TING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0061*
SENATE BILL 61
R2 2lr1256
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 10
By: Senator Zucker
Requested: November 1, 2021
Introduced and read first time: January 12, 2022
Assigned to: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Transit Administration – Conversion to Zero–Emission Buses 2
(Zero–Emission Bus Transition Act Revisions) 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Transit Administration to provide certain 4
safety and workforce development training for its operations training workforce and 5
its maintenance workforce; requiring the Administration’s annual report on the 6
implementation of the conversion of the State’s transit bus fleet to zero–emission 7
buses to include a plan that ensures certain employee protections and a certification 8
that the Administration is adhering to the plan; and generally relating to converting 9
the State’s transit bus fleet to zero–emission buses. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Transportation 12
Section 7–406 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 15
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17
Article – Transportation 18
7–406. 19
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 20
(2) “Alternative–fuel bus” means a motor vehicle that: 21
(i) Is designed to carry more than 10 passengers and is used to carry 22
passengers for compensation; 23 2 SENATE BILL 61
(ii) Is not powered by diesel or gasoline; 1
(iii) Provides greenhouse gas emissions reductions in comparison to 2
an equivalent diesel–powered vehicle; and 3
(iv) Is not a taxicab. 4
(3) “Bus” has the meaning stated in § 11–105 of this article. 5
(4) “Zero–emission bus” means a motor vehicle that is: 6
(i) Designed to carry more than 10 passengers and is used to carry 7
passengers for compensation; 8
(ii) A zero–emission vehicle; and 9
(iii) Not a taxicab. 10
(5) “Zero–emission vehicle” means: 11
(i) A fuel cell electric vehicle that: 12
1. Is a motor vehicle; 13
2. Is made by a manufacturer; 14
3. Is manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, 15
and highways; 16
4. Has a maximum speed capability of at least 55 miles per 17
hour; 18
5. Is powered entirely by electricity, produced by combining 19
hydrogen and oxygen, that runs the motor; 20
6. Has an operating range of at least 100 miles; and 21
7. Produces only water vapor and heat as by–products; or 22
(ii) A plug–in electric drive vehicle that: 23
1. Is a motor vehicle; 24
2. Is made by a manufacturer; 25
3. Has a maximum speed capability of at least 55 miles per 26 SENATE BILL 61 3
hour; and 1
4. Is propelled by an electric motor that draws electricity 2
from a battery that: 3
A. Has a capacity of not less than 4 kilowatt–hours; and 4
B. Is capable of being recharged from an external source of 5
electricity. 6
(b) (1) This section applies to the Administration’s State transit bus fleet. 7
(2) This section does not apply to a bus that is part of a locally operated 8
transit system. 9
(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, beginning in 10
fiscal year 2023, the Administration may not enter into a contract to purchase buses for the 11
Administration’s State transit bus fleet that are not zero–emission buses. 12
(2) If the Administration determines that no available zero–emission bus 13
meets the performance requirements for a particular use, the Administration may purchase 14
an alternative–fuel bus for that use. 15
(3) The full cost of zero–emission and alternative–fuel buses purchased 16
under this subsection shall be paid from the Transportation Trust Fund. 17
(d) (1) THE ADMINISTRATION SHAL L PROVIDE SAFETY AND WORKFORCE 18
DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR ITS: 19
(I) OPERATIONS TRAINING W ORKFORCE; AND 20
(II) MAINTENANCE WORKFORCE IN A MANNER THAT ENA BLES 21
THE MAINTENANCE WORK FORCE TO SAFELY REPA IR AND MAINTAIN : 22
1. THE ADMINISTRATION ’S ZERO–EMISSION BUSES AND 23
ALL THEIR COMPONENTS ; AND 24
2. THE CHARGING INFRASTR UCTURE FOR THE 25
ZERO–EMISSION BUSES . 26
(2) THE TRAINING REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 27
SUBSECTION SHALL INC LUDE REGISTERED APPR ENTICESHIPS AND OTHE R 28
LABOR–MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF THE 29
TRANSITION TO ZERO –EMISSION BUSES ON TH E ADMINISTRATION ’S WORKFORCE . 30
4 SENATE BILL 61
(E) The Administration shall ensure the development of charging infrastructure 1
to support the operation of zero–emission buses in the State transit bus fleet. 2
[(e)] (F) (1) On or before January 1, 2022, and each January 1 thereafter, the 3
Administration shall, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, submit 4
a report to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, the Senate Education, Health, and 5
Environmental Affairs Committee, the House Appropriations Committee, and the House 6
Environment and Transportation Committee on the implementation of this section. 7
(2) The annual report shall include: 8
(i) A schedule for converting the Administration’s State transit bus 9
fleet to zero–emission buses; 10
(ii) An evaluation of the charging infrastructure needed for the 11
Administration to create and maintain a State transit bus fleet of zero–emission buses; 12
(iii) A plan for [transitioning]: 13
1. TRANSITIONING any State employees adversely affected 14
by the conversion from a diesel–powered State transit bus fleet to a zero–emission State 15
transit bus fleet to similar or other employment within the Administration or Department 16
that has commensurate seniority, pay, and benefits; 17
2. ENSURING THAT NO DUTI ES OR FUNCTIONS OF STATE 18
EMPLOYEES ARE TRANSF ERRED TO A CONTRACTI NG ENTITY AS A RESUL T OF THE 19
CONVERSION FROM A DI ESEL–POWERED STATE TRANSIT BUS FLE ET TO A 20
ZERO–EMISSION STATE TRANSIT BUS FLE ET; AND 21
3. ENSURING THAT ANY ENT ITY OTHER THAN THE 22
ADMINISTRATION THAT O PERATES OR MAINTAINS ZERO–EMISSION BUSES ON 23
BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION PROVID ES EMPLOYEE PROTECTI ONS 24
EQUIVALENT TO THE PR OTECTIONS REQUIRED B Y THE PLAN; 25
(IV) A CERTIFICATION THAT T HE ADMINISTRATION IS 26
ADHERING TO THE PLAN REQUIRED UNDER ITEM (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH ; 27
[(iv)] (V) In coordination with other appropriate State agencies, an 28
estimate of the reduction in the amount of carbon dioxide emissions, measured in pounds, 29
that will be obtained through the use of zero–emission buses each year until the State 30
transit bus fleet is converted to zero–emission buses; and 31
[(v)] (VI) A financial analysis: 32
1. Of the projected cost of purchasing, maintaining, and 33 SENATE BILL 61 5
providing charging infrastructure for the zero–emission State transit bus fleet each year 1
until the fleet is converted to zero–emission buses; and 2
2. Comparing the projected cost under item 1 of this item to 3
the projected cost of continuing to operate a diesel–powered State transit bus fleet. 4
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 5
1, 2022. 6