BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2583
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 16, 2012

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                 AB 2583 (Blumenfield) - As Amended:  April 9, 2012 

          Policy Committee:                              Business and 
          Professions  Vote:                            7-1
                        Transportation                        9-3

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires that specified numbers of state vehicle 
          purchases by the Department of General Services (DGS) be 
          alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), as defined, and requires the 
          department to take administrative steps to increase the use of 
          AFVs by state employees. Specifically, this bill:

          1)Requires, beginning January 1, 2013, that at least 50% of new 
            vehicles purchased by DGS be AFVs, and requires, beginning 
            January 1, 2015, that 100% be AFVs, unless an AFV is not 
            available for a particular type of vehicle.

          2)Requires DGS to encourage (a) the operation of AFVs on the 
            alternative fuel for which the vehicle is designed and (b) the 
            development of commercial infrastructure for alternative fuel 
            pumps and charging stations near state vehicle parking and 
            fueling sites.

          3)Requires DGS to work with other public agencies to incentivize 
            and promote state employee operation of AFVs through 
            preferential or reduced-cost parking, access to charging, and 
            other means.

          4)Requires DGS and Caltrans to develop and implement alternative 
            technology vehicle parking incentive programs at DGS-operated 
            parking spaces and Caltrans' park and ride lots.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          1)DGS indicates it is generally compliant with the AFV purchase 








                                                                  AB 2583
                                                                  Page  2

            requirements in the bill. For one particular vehicle class 
            (station wagon), no AFV is currently available, thus 
            replacement of these vehicles would be exempt from purchase 
            requirement. All other costs to DGS would be minor and 
            absorbable, as the department indicates it is either already 
            compliant with or currently implementing the bill's 
            requirements.

          2)Caltrans costs to create incentives for AFVs in park and ride 
            lots are unknown. Providing preferential parking spaces would 
            cost relatively little, while providing fueling infrastructure 
            could carry significant costs, unless this could be done 
            through partnership with a private entity.

           


          COMMENTS  

           Purpose  . According to the author's office, "California has a 
          goal that by 2025 zero-emission or plug-in hybrid vehicles will 
          account for 15%, or one in seven of, new cars sold in 
          California, which if achieved, is expected to reduce vehicular 
          GhG emissions by 80% by 2050?Despite significant progress in 
          reducing smog-forming and particulate matter emissions from 
          vehicles across the state, GhG emissions must be drastically 
          reduced if we are to meet �this goal]?By establishing new 
          alternative fuel targets for California's state fleet, as well 
          as incentivizing and promoting state employee operation of AFVs 
          through preferential or reduced-cost parking, access to 
          charging, or other means, the State will not only reduce 
          emissions from the state-owned fleet, but will also help reduce 
          barriers that currently restrict consumers from buying an AFV."

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081