SB1615eng 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1615 Engrossed LRB097 08577 JDS 48704 b

AN ACT concerning safety.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Alternate Fuels Act is amended by changing Section 30 as follows:

(415 ILCS 120/30)

Sec. 30. Rebate and grant program.

(a) Beginning January 1, 1997, and as long as funds are available, each owner of an alternate fuel vehicle shall be eligible to apply for a rebate. Beginning July 1, 2005, each owner of a vehicle using domestic renewable fuel is eligible to apply for a fuel cost differential rebate under item (3) of this subsection (c) of this Section. The Agency shall cause rebates to be issued under the provisions of this Act. An owner may apply for only one of 3 types of rebates with regard to an individual alternate fuel vehicle: (i) a conversion cost rebate, (ii) an OEM differential cost rebate, or (iii) a fuel cost differential rebate. Only one rebate may be issued with regard to a particular alternate fuel vehicle during the life of that vehicle. A rebate shall not exceed $4,000 per vehicle. Over the life of this rebate program, an owner of an alternate fuel vehicle or a vehicle using domestic renewable fuel may not receive rebates for more than 150 vehicles per location or for 300 vehicles in total.

(1) (a) A conversion cost rebate may be issued to an owner or his or her designee in order to reduce the cost of converting a conventional vehicle or a hybrid vehicle to an alternate fuel vehicle. Conversion of a conventional vehicle or a hybrid vehicle to alternate fuel capability must take place in Illinois for the owner to be eligible for the conversion cost rebate. Amounts spent by applicants within a calendar year may be claimed on a rebate application submitted within 12 months after the month in which the conversion of the vehicle took place. Approved conversion cost rebates applied for during or after calendar year 1997 shall be 80% of all approved conversion costs claimed and documented. Approval of conversion cost rebates may continue after calendar year 2002, if funds are still available. An applicant may include on an application submitted in 1997 all amounts spent within that calendar year on the conversion, even if the expenditure occurred before promulgation of the Agency rules.

(2) (b) An OEM differential cost rebate may be issued to an owner or his or her designee in order to reduce the cost differential between a conventional vehicle or engine and the same vehicle or engine, produced by an original equipment manufacturer, that has the capability to use alternate fuels.

A new OEM vehicle or engine must be purchased in Illinois and must either be an alternate fuel vehicle or used in an alternate fuel vehicle, respectively, for the owner to be eligible for an OEM differential cost rebate. Large vehicles, over 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight, purchased outside Illinois are eligible for an OEM differential cost rebate if the same or a comparable vehicle is not available for purchase in Illinois. Amounts spent by applicants within a calendar year may be claimed on a rebate application submitted within 12 months after the month in which the new OEM vehicle or engine was purchased.

Approved OEM differential cost rebates applied for during or after calendar year 1997 shall be 80% of all approved cost differential claimed and documented. Approval of OEM differential cost rebates may continue after calendar year 2002, if funds are still available. An applicant may include on an application submitted in 1997 all amounts spent within that calendar year on OEM equipment, even if the expenditure occurred before promulgation of the Agency rules.

(3) (c) A fuel cost differential rebate may be issued to an owner or his or her designee in order to reduce the cost differential between conventional fuels and domestic renewable fuels or alternate fuels purchased to operate an alternate fuel vehicle. The fuel cost differential shall be based on a 3-year life cycle cost analysis developed by the Agency by rulemaking. The rebate shall apply to and be payable during a consecutive 3-year period commencing on the date the application is approved by the Agency. Approved fuel cost differential rebates may be applied for during or after calendar year 1997 and approved rebates shall be 80% of the cost differential for a consecutive 3-year period. Approval of fuel cost differential rebates may continue after calendar year 2002 if funds are still available.

Twenty-five percent of the amount that is appropriated under Section 40 to be used to fund programs authorized by this Section during calendar year 2001 shall be designated to fund fuel cost differential rebates. If the total dollar amount of approved fuel cost differential rebate applications as of July 1, 2001 is less than the amount designated for that calendar year, the balance of designated funds shall be immediately available to fund any rebate authorized by this Section and approved in the calendar year.

An approved fuel cost differential rebate shall be paid to an owner in 3 annual installments on or about the anniversary date of the approval of the application. Owners receiving a fuel cost differential rebate shall be required to demonstrate, through recordkeeping, the use of domestic renewable fuels during the 3-year period commencing on the date the application is approved by the Agency. If the vehicle ceases to be registered to the original applicant owner, a prorated installment shall be paid to that owner or the owner's designee and the remainder of the rebate shall be canceled.

(b) (d) Vehicles owned by the federal government or vehicles registered in a state outside Illinois are not eligible for rebates.

(c) Through fiscal year 2013, the Agency may make grants to car sharing organizations in Illinois for the purchase of electric vehicles. The grant program shall be subject to the existing rules in 35 Ill. Adm. Code 275. A grant may not exceed 25% of the total project cost including vehicles and supporting infrastructure.

(1) In each fiscal year, a car sharing organization may submit a grant application to the Agency by June 30th. The application shall include the following information:

(A) the information required in subsection (a) of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 275.230, except for items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7;

(B) a narrative description of the project;

(C) a detailed project budget, including the costs of vehicles and supporting infrastructure; and

(D) the number of vehicles proposed to be purchased as part of the project.

(2) After the Agency has processed all rebate requests submitted during the fiscal year, it may award grants for a total amount not to exceed the amount of unspent money remaining of the amount appropriated for the programs authorized by this Section.

(3) In deciding whether to award a grant, the Agency shall consider the overall level of environmental benefits to be realized by the proposed project.

(4) Grant funds may only be used for purchasing electric vehicles, and shall not exceed 25% of the actual project expenditures. A vehicle purchased using grant funds is not eligible for any rebate authorized by this Section.

(5) Within one year after the date of the grant award, the grantee shall submit a final report to the Agency. If there are grant funds unspent at that time, the remaining money shall be returned to the Agency. The report shall include the following information:

(A) the make, model, and model year of each vehicle;

(B) the dates of vehicle purchases;

(C) the vehicle identification number (VIN);

(D) the license plate number and the state of registration;

(E) proof of payment for the vehicles; and

(F) a complete financial report for the project.

(6) Vehicles purchased with grant funds must remain registered and in service with the grantee in Illinois for a minimum of 5 years after purchase. If a vehicle is sold or otherwise taken out of service in Illinois earlier than that time, then the grantee shall refund to the Agency a prorated amount of the grant funds used to purchase that vehicle, except if a vehicle is replaced with a comparable vehicle or can no longer be safely operated due to an accident or other damage.

(Source: P.A. 96-537, eff. 8-14-09; 96-1278, eff. 7-26-10.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.