Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB0994
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 Bill Status of HB0994  94th General Assembly


Short Description:  VEH CD-SCHOOL BUSES-BIODIESEL

House Sponsors
Rep. William Davis, Karen A. Yarbrough and Deborah L. Graham

Last Action
DateChamber Action
  2/24/2005HouseTabled By Sponsor Rep. William Davis

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
625 ILCS 5/12-812.2 new


Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that any school bus purchased on or after January 1, 2006 to transport students to or from any school for grades K through 12 supported in whole or in part by State funds must be equipped to use biodiesel fuel. Provides that any school bus used to transport students to or from a school covered by the provision must use biodiesel fuel unless biodiesel fuel is unavailable in the vicinity of the school or unless the school bus is not equipped to use biodiesel fuel. Provides that the Secretary of Transportation shall adopt rules for implementing the new provision. Effective immediately.

 State Mandates Fiscal Note (Illinois State Board of Education)
 The language in this bill is unclear and depending on interpretation this may negatively impact school districts financially. Currently, the bill says "any school bus purchased on or after January 1, 2006....must be equipped to use biodiesel fuel". Further in paragraph (b)(ii) the language says "unless the school bus is not equipped to use biodiesel". It is assumed that this language is alluding to the fact that many districts purchase "used" school buses; however, there is not a clear definition as to whether or not the language in (b)(ii) includes flexibility to purchase a "used" school bus that is gasoline powered on or after January 1, 2006 whether or not they would be required to retrofit the bus for biodiesel due to the fact that retrofitting costs for biodiesel would be sizable. Type 1 (big yellow school buses which have a gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds) were manufactured with both gasoline and diesel engines through 2002. After 2002, Type 1 buses were only manufactured with diesel engines. Currently, only the "mini" Type II buses (mini school buses which have a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less) are being produced with gasoline powered engines. The proposed language is silent on whether a Type I or Type II school bus is being purchased. Hypothetically, districts could purchase "used" Type I or Type II gasoline powered school buses over the next 10 years due to turnover and replacement of current buses. In addition, ISBE must be cognizant of "supply and demand" when it comes to costs for biodiesel. Biodiesel is available in only limited markets and in those areas where it is available, the requirement in paragraph (b)(a) mandates the use of biodiesel. This will most certainly increase the price of biodiesel due to law of supply and demand. This in turn would increase the claimable amount to the state and escalate reimbursement costs. A concern is that using a biodiesel blend invalidates the manufacturer's engine warranty in many cases. The current price for regular #2 biodiesel fuel, which is used by most all school buses, is approximately $2.15 per gallon; the cost for biodiesel fuel (B11) is approximately $2.05 per gallon due to the fact that sales tax is eliminated by running the B11 blend.

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  2/3/2005HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. William Davis
  2/3/2005HouseFirst Reading
  2/3/2005HouseReferred to Rules Committee
  2/8/2005HouseAssigned to Elementary & Secondary Education Committee
  2/24/2005HouseTabled By Sponsor Rep. William Davis
  3/1/2005HouseCo-Sponsor Rep. Karen A. Yarbrough
  3/10/2005HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Deborah L. Graham
  4/11/2005HouseState Mandates Fiscal Note Filed

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