(a) On or before December 31, 2008, the Department of General Services, in conjunction with the State Air Resources Board and the commission, shall amend the existing “Enhanced Efficiency Costing Methodology for Passenger Cars and Light-Duty Vehicles” to rank the environmental and energy benefits, and costs of motor vehicles for potential procurement by state and local governments. The vehicle rankings shall include both of the following criteria:
(1) The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutant emissions, and petroleum use on a full fuel-cycle basis, to the extent possible, based on existing data available to the State Air Resources Board, the commission, or other reliable sources, including the California Strategy to Reduce Petroleum Dependence developed pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 25720 and the state plan to increase the use of alternative transportation fuels developed pursuant to Section 43866 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) The life-cycle costs of the vehicle and fuel, including maintenance.
(b) On or before December 31, 2008, the Department of General Services shall revise its procedures for the procurement of state and local government vehicles based upon the necessary performance specifications of the vehicles to perform the required work or tasks of the vehicles in the fleet. The Department of General Services shall establish vehicle “classes” depending upon the required work or tasks and the necessary performance specifications.
(c) On or before July 1, 2009, for the purpose of state fleet procurement, both of the following shall apply:
(1) Available vehicles in individual classes shall be ranked for purchase or lease using the method and criteria developed in subdivision (a).
(2) (A) Vehicles shall be procured for use in the state fleet that meet all requirements established by the federal government, including, but not limited to, the federal Energy Policy Act of 1992, Public Law 102-486, if applicable, and that have been ranked best in their class as determined by the evaluation in subdivision (a).
(B) If fueling infrastructure, for the fuel used to rank a vehicle best in class, is not available, or planned to be available within two years, the Department of General Services shall procure the vehicle ranked next best in class for which fueling infrastructure is or will be available.
(d) The Department of General Services shall evaluate vehicles for potential addition to the state and local fleets, as described in this section, on an annual basis, reflecting annual new vehicle availability.
(e) A vehicle capable of using alternative fuels shall be operated on those fuels to the maximum extent practicable unless alternative fuels are not readily available or other factors exist that may prevent the use of those fuels in the area in which the vehicle is used.
(f) The Department of General Services shall do both of the following:
(1) During the normal course of coordination and contracting with nearby fueling stations, provide information related to the alternative fuel vehicles in the state fleet and request the stations to provide a fuel supply to meet that demand.
(2) When replacing, retrofitting, or installing a fueling tank or infrastructure at a facility that fuels state vehicles, the Department of General Services shall consider requesting competitive bids for alternative fuel infrastructure that would meet the needs of vehicles used, or planned to be used, in that facility.
(g) Authorized emergency vehicles as defined in Section 165 of the Vehicle Code, that are equipped with emergency lamps or lights described in Section 25252 of the Vehicle Code, are exempt from the requirements of this section.
(h) Each state office, agency, or department seeking to purchase or lease a sport utility vehicle or four-wheel drive vehicle shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Director of General Services or the entity that purchases or leases vehicles that the vehicle is required to perform an essential function of the office, agency, or department. If it is so demonstrated, priority consideration shall be given to the purchase or lease of an alternative fuel or hybrid sports utility vehicle or four-wheel drive vehicle.
(i) Pursuant to Article IX of the California Constitution, this section shall not apply to the University of California except to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution, make this section applicable.
(Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 593, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2008.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018