129th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1894		LR 2925(02)
	An Act To Incentivize the Purchase of Electric Public School Buses
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Future goals may require funding
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to approve the purchase, lease or contracting of school buses to the extent practicable in a manner designed to meet a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions of the public school bus fleet by 75% by 2035 and to transition the public school bus fleet to 100% zero emissions by 2045.  According to the department, school buses that reduce green house gas emissions are more expensive to purchase than the school buses that use gas or diesel.  To the extent that the commissioner approves the purchase of lower emission or 100% zero-emission school buses and no additional funds are provided, fewer buses will be approved.  To the extent that the commissioner does not find it practicable to approve the purchase of  lower-emission or 100% zero emission school buses, the goals specified in the bill may not be met.
	Additional costs to the Department of Transportation, Governor's Energy Office, Efficiency Maine Trust and the Public Utilities Commission associated with serving on the working group can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.