LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 9, 2009 TO: Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB657 by Villarreal (Relating to the requirement that state agencies purchase low-emissions vehicles as a minimum percentage of their purchased vehicles.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend the Government Code to require state agencies to ensure that 50 percent (under current law the proportion is 10 percent) of eligible general use vehicle purchases in any state fiscal biennium meet or exceed standards to be classified as a Tier II, Bin 3, emissions standard vehicle that has a greenhouse gas score of eight under the Environmental Protection Agency regulations as they exist on September 1, 2007. The bill would repeal a provision that provided that agencies with fewer than 10 vehicle purchases in a biennium are exempt from the standards. The bill would also create an exemption for the purchase of vehicles driven by peace officers whose duties include the apprehension of criminals. An exemption currently allows a state agency to purchase a vehicle that is not low-emission, if the vehicle meets the agency's operational need and no such low-emission vehicle is commercially available. The Texas Department of Transportation, the Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department indicated that some of their vehicle purchases fall under this exemption. Low-emission vehicles cost approximately $5,000 to $7,000 more than traditional vehicles according to various agency responses. The agencies contacted indicate that there is no significant fiscal impact. Local Government Impact No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies:304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 305 General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board, 551 Department of Agriculture, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 601 Department of Transportation, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department LBB Staff: JOB, SD, PJK
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 9, 2009
TO: Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB657 by Villarreal (Relating to the requirement that state agencies purchase low-emissions vehicles as a minimum percentage of their purchased vehicles.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB657 by Villarreal (Relating to the requirement that state agencies purchase low-emissions vehicles as a minimum percentage of their purchased vehicles.), As Introduced
Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
HB657 by Villarreal (Relating to the requirement that state agencies purchase low-emissions vehicles as a minimum percentage of their purchased vehicles.), As Introduced
HB657 by Villarreal (Relating to the requirement that state agencies purchase low-emissions vehicles as a minimum percentage of their purchased vehicles.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to require state agencies to ensure that 50 percent (under current law the proportion is 10 percent) of eligible general use vehicle purchases in any state fiscal biennium meet or exceed standards to be classified as a Tier II, Bin 3, emissions standard vehicle that has a greenhouse gas score of eight under the Environmental Protection Agency regulations as they exist on September 1, 2007. The bill would repeal a provision that provided that agencies with fewer than 10 vehicle purchases in a biennium are exempt from the standards. The bill would also create an exemption for the purchase of vehicles driven by peace officers whose duties include the apprehension of criminals. An exemption currently allows a state agency to purchase a vehicle that is not low-emission, if the vehicle meets the agency's operational need and no such low-emission vehicle is commercially available. The Texas Department of Transportation, the Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department indicated that some of their vehicle purchases fall under this exemption. Low-emission vehicles cost approximately $5,000 to $7,000 more than traditional vehicles according to various agency responses. The agencies contacted indicate that there is no significant fiscal impact.
The bill would amend the Government Code to require state agencies to ensure that 50 percent (under current law the proportion is 10 percent) of eligible general use vehicle purchases in any state fiscal biennium meet or exceed standards to be classified as a Tier II, Bin 3, emissions standard vehicle that has a greenhouse gas score of eight under the Environmental Protection Agency regulations as they exist on September 1, 2007.
The bill would repeal a provision that provided that agencies with fewer than 10 vehicle purchases in a biennium are exempt from the standards. The bill would also create an exemption for the purchase of vehicles driven by peace officers whose duties include the apprehension of criminals.
An exemption currently allows a state agency to purchase a vehicle that is not low-emission, if the vehicle meets the agency's operational need and no such low-emission vehicle is commercially available. The Texas Department of Transportation, the Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department indicated that some of their vehicle purchases fall under this exemption.
Low-emission vehicles cost approximately $5,000 to $7,000 more than traditional vehicles according to various agency responses.
The agencies contacted indicate that there is no significant fiscal impact.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 305 General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board, 551 Department of Agriculture, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 601 Department of Transportation, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 305 General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board, 551 Department of Agriculture, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 601 Department of Transportation, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department
LBB Staff: JOB, SD, PJK
JOB, SD, PJK