Revision: Jan. 6, 2020, 3:39 p.m.
SB 610 - AS INTRODUCED
2020 SESSION
20-2777
06/03
SENATE BILL 610
SPONSORS: Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5; Rep. Major, Rock. 14; Rep. Backus, Hills. 19; Rep. Ames, Ches. 9
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a commission to evaluate the transportation climate initiative framework for a draft memorandum of understanding and associated modeling and scenarios.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
20-2777
06/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
I. Transportation emissions contribute approximately 40 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the mid-Atlantic and northeastern regions of the United States. There is a compelling economic and environmental need to make a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. It is therefore in the public interest to minimize our transportation system's reliance on high-carbon fuels, promote sustainable growth, and help build the clean energy economy.
II. Eleven mid-Atlantic and northeast states and the District of Columbia have been working collaboratively in the Transportation and Climate Initiative of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States to explore and develop policies and programs that can result in greater energy efficiency of regional transportation systems and deployment of clean cars and clean fuels, and yield significant reductions of regional greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector.
III. New Hampshire's participation in the Transportation and Climate Initiative of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States provides the opportunity to expand safe and reliable transportation options, attract federal investment, lower transportation costs, improve overall air quality and public health, further collaborate on the research and development of advanced transportation technologies, and mitigate the transportation sector's impact on climate change.
2 Low Carbon Fuel Standards Programs; State Participation. Amend RSA 21-O:23 to read as follows:
21-O:23 Low Carbon Fuel Standards Programs; State Participation.
I. The state of New Hampshire shall not [join,] implement[, or participate in] any state, regional, or national low carbon fuel standards program or any similar program that requires quotas, caps, or mandates on any fuels used for transportation, industrial purposes, or home heating without seeking and receiving prior legislative approval.
II. The department of environmental services and the department of transportation may engage in regional and national discussions of such programs.
[III. The department of environmental services shall report all expenses resulting from its discussions to the fiscal committee of the general court on a semi-annual basis.]
3 New Subdivision; Transportation Climate Initiative Framework for a Draft Memorandum of Understanding. Amend RSA 4-C by inserting after section 37 the following new subdivision:
Transportation Climate Initiative Framework
for a Draft Memorandum of Understanding
4-C:38 Commission Established.
I. There is established a commission to evaluate the Transportation Climate Initiative framework for a memorandum of understanding and associated modeling and scenarios.
II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Two members of the senate, one of whom shall be a member of the energy and natural resources committee, and one of whom shall be a member of the senate transportation committee, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Five members of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be a member of the commerce and consumer affairs committee, one of whom shall be a member of the public works and highways committee, one of whom shall be a member of the house ways and means committee, one of whom shall be a member of the house transportation committee, and one of whom shall be a member of the science, technology and energy committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) The commissioner of the department of environmental services, or designee.
(d) A representative of the office of strategic initiatives, appointed by the governor.
(e) The commissioner of the department of transportation, or designee.
(f) The commissioner of the department of business and economic affairs, or designee.
III. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
IV. Staff from the office of strategic initiatives, the department of environmental services, and the department of transportation shall assist in the work of the commission, and, as available, staff of the senate and house committees from which membership is drawn.
V. The commission shall:
(a) Consider the effect of the Transportation Climate Initiative on New Hampshire emissions, clean energy strategies, and public health.
(b) Consider the costs and benefits of participation and nonparticipation on New Hampshire consumers, business, industry, municipalities, and state agencies.
(c) Evaluate the memorandum of understanding and related modeling and scenarios in terms of the Transportation Climate Initiative framework principles: equity, affected fuels and emissions, regulated entities, emissions reporting, monitoring and verification, flexibility and cost containment, auctions and allocations, regional caps and allowance budgets for each jurisdiction, market monitoring and auction administration, investment of proceeds, and complementary policies.
(d) Review information and data on total CO2 emissions from on-road gas and diesel and examine how the Transportation Climate Initiative program would impact CO2 emissions.
(e) Evaluate the need for New Hampshire to conduct state specific modeling and identify a source of funding for that purpose.
(f) Consider which agency or agencies should be responsible for implementing and administering the program.
(g) Determine a legislative structure for continuing evaluation, policy recommendations, supervision and approval of expenditures, and subsequent legislative recommendations.
(h) Recommend legislation to implement a Transportation Climate Initiative memorandum of understanding or to manage consequences of nonparticipation.
(i) Identify potential costs of the implementation phase before any revenues may be available from the program and a source of funding.
(j) Consult with interested parties, including but not limited to fuel suppliers, the trucking industry, New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association, the Business and Industry Association, and members of the public.
VI. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
VII. The commission shall make an interim report on or before December 1, 2020, with a final report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before December 1, 2021.
4 Repeal. RSA 4-C:38, relative to the commission to evaluate the transportation climate initiative framework for a draft memorandum of understanding is repealed.
I. Section 4 of this act shall take effect December 1, 2021.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.