CHARGE Act
PL 116-160 (S.2193), enacted 10/01/2020

[116th Congress Public Law 160]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 134 STAT. 753]]

Public Law 116-160
116th Congress

                                 An Act


 
 To require the Administrator of General Services to issue guidance to 
clarify that Federal agencies may pay by charge card for the charging of 
Federal electric motor vehicles, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Oct. 1, 
                          2020 -  [S. 2193]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Charging Helps 
Agencies Realize General Efficiencies Act. 31 USC 1344 note.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Charging Helps Agencies Realize 
General Efficiencies Act'' or the ``CHARGE Act''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: Deadlines.>>  PAYMENT BY CHARGE CARD FOR CHARGING 
                    FEDERAL ELECTRIC MOTOR VEHICLES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this Act--
            (1) the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of 
        General Services;
            (2) the term ``charge card''--
                    (A) means a card, plate, coupon book, or other means 
                existing for the purpose of obtaining money, property, 
                labor, or services; and
                    (B) includes--
                          (i) a card issued under the GSA SmartPay 
                      program; and
                          (ii) a Fleet Services card;
            (3) the term ``covered electric motor vehicle'' means a 
        passenger carrier that is--
                    (A) a passenger motor vehicle; and
                    (B) an electric motor vehicle;
            (4) the term ``electric motor vehicle'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 601 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 
        (42 U.S.C. 13271);
            (5) the term ``electric motor vehicle charging station'' 
        means a battery-charging station that permits the transfer of 
        electric energy (by conductive or inductive means) to a battery 
        or other storage device in an electric motor vehicle; and
            (6) the terms ``Federal agency'' and ``passenger carrier'' 
        have the meanings given those terms in section 1344(h) of title 
        31, United States Code.

    (b) Guidance.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall issue guidance to clarify that each 
Federal agency may, in accordance with section 1344 of title 31, United 
States Code--
            (1) charge a covered electric motor vehicle at a commercial 
        electric motor vehicle charging station; and

[[Page 134 STAT. 754]]

            (2) pay for a transaction described in paragraph (1) with a 
        charge card.

    (c) Issuance of Charge Cards.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue to each 
Federal agency a charge card for each covered electric motor vehicle of 
the Federal agency that may be used by an officer or employee of the 
Federal agency to pay for charging the covered motor vehicle in 
accordance with the guidance issued under subsection (b).

    Approved October 1, 2020.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2193:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

SENATE REPORTS: No. 116-95 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
                                                        Vol. 165 (2019):
                                    Nov. 21, considered and passed 
                                        Senate.
                                                        Vol. 166 (2020):
                                    Sept. 14, considered and passed 
                                        House.

                                  <all>