An Act To Incentivize the Purchase of Electric Public School Buses

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  to mitigate the effects of climate change, this Act requires the Department of Education to take certain actions related to the transition of the fleet of public school buses to electric school buses; and

Whereas,  climate change poses a substantial and immediate threat to the economy, natural resources and public health of the State; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §5401, sub-§15-A  is enacted to read:

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §5401, sub-§15-B  is enacted to read:

Sec. 3. 2020 request for proposals; small school buses. To endeavor to meet the goal of transitioning the public school bus fleet to 100% all-electric school buses by 2040 in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 5401, subsection 15-A, the Department of Education shall set aside a percentage of available resources for the purchase of electric small school buses with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, as replacements in or additions to the school bus fleet, in the 2020 request for proposals as allowed by state and federal rules and regulations.

Sec. 4. Transportation administration assessment. The Department of Education shall assess the need to expand transportation administration staff to manage the transition of the fleet of public school buses in the State to 100% all-electric school buses under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 5401, subsection 15-A. The department shall coordinate the assessment with:

1. The Department of Transportation;

2. Law enforcement agencies, firefighting agencies and other first responders regarding safety issues; and

3. The Public Utilities Commission and utilities in the State regarding electric school bus energy dispatching issues.

Sec. 5. Rulemaking; electric public school bus fleet goal. Rules adopted by the Department of Education pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 5401, subsection 15-A must:

1. Change school bus bid requirements to add electric school buses to the criteria to be weighed for purchase approvals for additions to the public school bus fleet and replacements due to age;

2. Establish a process for the department to provide resources to school administrative units that purchase their own electric school buses to install electric charging stations needed to support those buses; and

3. Adjust the State's uniform school bus specifications to reflect updates to national school transportation specifications and ensure that the State's specifications include provisions for small and large electric school buses and other appropriate school transportation vehicles.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill directs the Department of Education to endeavor to meet a goal of transitioning the public school bus fleet to 100% all-electric school buses by 2040 and directs the department to adopt rules relating to bid requirements, electric charging stations and uniform school bus specifications. It requires the department to set aside a percentage of available resources for the purchase of electric small school buses, as replacements in or additions to the school bus fleet, in the 2020 request for proposals. It requires the department to develop an electric school bus training program to train school bus mechanics, school bus drivers and school transportation directors and it requires annual training by school bus mechanics, school bus drivers and school transportation directors. It requires the department to assess the need to expand transportation administration staff to manage the transition of the fleet of public school buses in the State to electric school buses.