06 LC 25
4510S
House
Bill 1412 (FLOOR SUBSTITUTE)
By:
Representatives Smith of the
168th,
England of the
108th,
Mosley of the
178th,
Bridges of the
10th,
and Stephens of the
164th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education,
Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to local
government, and Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
state government, so as to encourage the use of clean renewable fuels in certain
vehicles operated by certain government entities under certain circumstances;
to provide for legislative findings and declarations; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
The
General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1)
Georgia currently consumes nearly 6.5 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel
fuel annually;
(2)
Petroleum is imported primarily from outside the United States;
(3)
Using clean alternative fuels instead of fossil fuels will provide for a cleaner
environment by reducing water and air contamination;
(4)
In particular, the use of clean renewable fuels such as biodiesel blend and
ethanol blend will provide additional benefits for the State of
Georgia;
(5)
Georgia has the potential to create a biofuels industry that would serve as a
model for the South and thereby attract additional new industries;
(6)
This biofuels industry could add over $1 billion of economic activity to Georgia
and increase the
statés
income tax collections by over $10 million annually;
(7)
Nearly 500 direct and over 1,000 indirect jobs would be created by the Georgia
biofuels industry; and
(8)
Creating this industry will add additional value to
Georgiás
agricultural and forestry commodities, including biomass, and support land
values in rural Georgia.
SECTION
2.
Title
20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, is amended
by inserting immediately following Code Section 20-2-504 a new Code section to
read as follows:
"20-2-504.1.
(a)
As used in this Code section, the term:
(1)
'Biodiesel blend' means a blended fuel containing petroleum diesel fuel with a
minimum level of 2 percent biodiesel fuel.
(2)
'Biodiesel fuel' means a fuel composed of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty
acids derived from wood and wood residues, crops, residues, stover, agricultural
wastes, or animal fats, with each production run meeting the requirements of
American Society for Testing and Materials Standard D 6751.
(3)
'Clean renewable fuel' means biodiesel blend or ethanol blend.
(4)
'Ethanol blend' means fuel meeting the American Society for Testing and
Materials specification with a minimum level of 5 percent ethanol.
(b)
On and after January 1, 2007, each local school district is encouraged to use
clean renewable fuel in any gasoline or diesel motor vehicle or equipment it
operates whenever such fuel is compatible with the technology of the vehicle or
equipment and is reasonably available at a cost similar to that of conventional
fuel.
(c)
On and after January 1, 2007, local school districts are encouraged to enter
into contracts to purchase or lease motor vehicles and equipment that are
capable of being powered by clean renewable fuel or other alternative fuel if
motor vehicles and equipment capable of being powered by such a clean renewable
fuel are suitable for the intended use and such motor vehicles and equipment are
reasonably available at a cost similar to that of comparable conventionally
fueled vehicles and
equipment."
SECTION
3.
Title
36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to local government, is
amended by inserting a new Code section immediately following Code Section
36-60-23 to read as follows:
"36-60-24.
(a)
As used in this Code section, the term:
(1)
'Biodiesel blend' means a blended fuel containing petroleum diesel fuel and a
minimum level of 2 percent biodiesel fuel.
(2)
'Biodiesel fuel' means a fuel composed of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty
acids derived from wood and wood residues, crops, residues, stover, agricultural
wastes, or animal fats, with each production run meeting the requirements of
American Society for Testing and Materials Standard D 6751.
(3)
'Clean renewable fuel' means biodiesel blend or ethanol blend.
(4)
'Ethanol blend' means fuel meeting the American Society for Testing and
Materials specification with a minimum level of 5 percent ethanol.
(b)
On and after January 1, 2007, each county and municipal corporation is
encouraged to use clean renewable fuel in any gasoline or diesel motor vehicle
or equipment it operates whenever such fuel is compatible with the technology of
the vehicle or equipment and is reasonably available at a cost similar to that
of conventional fuel.
(c)
On and after January 1, 2007, counties or municipal corporations are encouraged
to enter into contracts to purchase or lease motor vehicles and equipment that
are capable of being powered by clean renewable fuel or other alternative fuel
if motor vehicles and equipment capable of being powered by such a clean
renewable fuel are suitable for the intended use and such motor vehicles and
equipment are reasonably available at a cost similar to that of comparable
conventionally fueled vehicles and
equipment."
SECTION
4.
Title
50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, is
amended by inserting a new Code section immediately following Code Section
50-19-6 to read as follows:
"50-19-6.1.
(a)
As used in this Code section, the term:
(1)
'Biodiesel blend' means a blended fuel containing petroleum diesel fuel with a
minimum level of 2 percent biodiesel fuel.
(2)
'Biodiesel fuel' means a fuel composed of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty
acids derived from wood and wood residues, crops, residues, stover, agricultural
wastes, or animal fats, with each production run meeting the requirements of
American Society for Testing and Materials Standard D 6751.
(3)
'Clean renewable fuel' means biodiesel blend or ethanol blend.
(4)
'Ethanol blend' means fuel meeting the American Society for Testing and
Materials specification with a minimum level of 5 percent ethanol.
(b)
On and after January 1, 2007, each office, agency, department, board, bureau,
commission, institution, authority, or other entity of the state is encouraged
to use clean renewable fuel in any gasoline or diesel motor vehicle or equipment
it operates whenever such fuel is compatible with the technology of the vehicle
or equipment and is reasonably available at a cost similar to that of
conventional fuel.
(c)
On and after January 1, 2007, offices, agencies, departments, boards, bureaus,
commissions, institutions, authorities, or any other entities of the state are
encouraged to enter into contracts to purchase or lease motor vehicles and
equipment that are capable of being powered by clean renewable fuel or other
alternative fuel if motor vehicles and equipment capable of being powered by
such a clean renewable fuel are suitable for the intended use and such motor
vehicles and equipment are reasonably available at a cost similar to that of
comparable conventionally fueled vehicles and
equipment."
SECTION
5.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.