Title: Energy

Summary: Revising the selection criteria for purchasing or leasing vehicles for state agency, college, or university or certain local government fleets; removing a provision requiring the use and procurement of ethanol and biodiesel fuels; requiring the Department of Management Services, before a specified date, to make recommendations to state agencies and local governments relating to the procurement and integration of electric and natural gas fuel vehicles; revising the definition of the term "single-trade inspection", etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to energy; amending s. 286.29, F.S.; revising the selection criteria for purchasing or leasing vehicles for state agency, college, or university or certain local government fleets; removing a provision requiring the use and procurement of ethanol and biodiesel fuels; requiring the Department of Management Services, before a specified date, to make recommendations to state agencies and local governments relating to the procurement and integration of electric and natural gas fuel vehicles; amending s. 553.791, F.S.; revising the definition of the term  single-trade inspection ; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 286.29, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 286.29 Climate-friendly public business. The Legislature recognizes the importance of leadership by state government in the area of energy efficiency and in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of state government operations. The following shall pertain to all state agencies when conducting public business: (4) When procuring new vehicles, all state agencies, state universities, community colleges, and local governments that purchase vehicles under a state purchasing plan shall first define the intended purpose for the vehicle and determine which of the following use classes for which the vehicle is being procured: (a) State business travel, designated operator; (b) State business travel, pool operators; (c) Construction, agricultural, or maintenance work; (d) Conveyance of passengers; (e) Conveyance of building or maintenance materials and supplies; (f) Off-road vehicle, motorcycle, or all-terrain vehicle; (g) Emergency response; or (h) Other. Vehicles described in paragraphs (a) through (h), when being processed for purchase or leasing agreements, must be selected based on the lowest lifetime ownership costs, including costs for fuel, operations, and maintenance, for the greatest fuel efficiency available for a given use class when fuel economy data are available.Exceptions may be made for individual vehicles in paragraph (g) when accompanied, during the procurement process, by documentation indicating that the operator or operators will exclusively be emergency first responders or have special documented need for exceptional vehicle performance characteristics. Any request for an exception must be approved by the purchasing agency head and any exceptional performance characteristics denoted as a part of the procurement process prior to purchase. (5) A ll state agencies shall use ethanol and biodiesel blended fuels when available. State agencies administering central fueling operations for state-owned vehicles shall procure biofuels for fleet needs to the greatest extent practicable. Section 2.  Before July 1, 2023, the Department of Management Services shall make recommendations to state agencies, including state colleges and universities, and local governments regarding the procurement of electric and natural gas fuel vehicles and best practices for integrating such vehicles into existing fleets. Section 3. Paragraph (p) of subsection (1) of section 553.791, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 553.791 Alternative plans review and inspection.  (1) As used in this section, the term: (p) Single-trade inspection  means any inspection focused on a single construction trade, such as plumbing, mechanical, or electrical. The term includes, but is not limited to, inspections of door or window replacements; fences and block walls more than feet high from the top of the wall to the bottom of the footing; stucco or plastering; reroofing with no structural alteration; HVAC replacements; installation of electric vehicle charging stations; solar energy and energy storage installations or alterations; ductwork or fan replacements; alteration or installation of wiring, lighting, and service panels; water heater changeouts; sink replacements; and repiping. Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.