IC 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2086 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 22, 2014 

Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 

such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

AN ACT 

To address current emergency shortages of propane and 

other home heating fuels and to provide greater flexibility 

and information for Governors to address such emergencies in the future. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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S 2086 RFH

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reliable Home Heating 

3 Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO EXTEND EMERGENCY DECLARA5 TIONS FOR PURPOSES OF TEMPORARILY EX6 EMPTING MOTOR CARRIERS PROVIDING 

7 EMERGENCY RELIEF FROM CERTAIN SAFETY 

8 REGULATIONS. 

9 (a) DEFINED TERM.—In this Act, the term ‘‘residen10 tial heating fuel’’ includes— 

11 (1) heating oil; 

12 (2) natural gas; and 

13 (3) propane. 

14 (b) AUTHORIZATION.—If the Governor of a State de15 clares a state of emergency caused by a shortage of resi16 dential heating fuel and, at the conclusion of the initial 

17 30-day emergency period (or a second 30-day emergency 

18 period authorized under this subsection), the Governor de19 termines that the emergency shortage has not ended, any 

20 extension of such state of emergency by the Governor, up 

21 to 2 additional 30-day periods, shall be recognized by the 

22 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as a period 

23 during which parts 390 through 399 of chapter III of title 

24 49, Code of Federal Regulations, shall not apply to any 

25 motor carrier or driver operating a commercial motor vehiVerDate Mar 15 2010 23:32 May 23, 2014 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2086.RFH S2086

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1 cle to provide residential heating fuel in the geographic 

2 area so designated as under a state of emergency. 

3 (c) RULEMAKING.—The Secretary of Transportation 

4 shall amend section 390.23(a)(1)(ii) of title 49, Code of 

5 Federal Regulations, to conform to the provision set forth 

6 in subsection (b). 

7 (d) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this section 

8 may be construed to modify the authority granted to the 

9 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Field Ad10 ministrator under section 390.23(a) of title 49, Code of 

11 Federal Regulations, to offer temporary exemptions from 

12 parts 390 through 399 of such title. 

13 SEC. 3. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION NOTIFI14 CATION REQUIREMENT. 

15 The Administrator of the Energy Information Ad16 ministration, using data compiled from the Administra17 tion’s Weekly Petroleum Status Reports, shall notify the 

18 Governor of each State in a Petroleum Administration for 

19 Defense District if the inventory of residential heating fuel 

20 within such district has been below the most recent 5-year 

21 average for more than 3 consecutive weeks. 

22 SEC. 4. REVIEW. 

23 Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment 

24 of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall conduct 

25 a study of, and transmit to the Committee on Commerce, 


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1 Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Com2 mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 

3 of Representatives, a report on the impacts of safety from 

4 the extensions issued by Governors according to this Act. 

5 In conducting the study, the Secretary shall review, at a 

6 minimum— 

7 (1) the safety implications of extending exemp8 tions; and 

9 (2) a review of the exemption process to ensure 

10 clarity and efficiency during emergencies. 

Passed the Senate May 21, 2014. 

Attest: NANCY ERICKSON, 

Secretary. 


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