An Act To Incentivize the Purchase of Electric Public School Buses
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1894
Committee Amendment CA_A_S421 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " A " to S.P. 646, L.D. 1894, Bill, "An Act To 
Incentivize the Purchase of Electric Public School Buses" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Transition the Public School Bus Fleet to 100% Zero Emissions' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 20-A MR.SA §5401, sub-§15-A is enacted to read: 
15-A. 
Zero-emissions public school bus fleet goal. 
The commissioner in 
approving school bus purchases, contracts and leases under subsection 15 shall to the 
extent practicable grant such approvals in a manner designed to meet the following goals: 
A. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of the public school bus fleet by 75% by 
2035:and 
B. Transition of the public school bus fleet to 100% zero-emissions school buses by 
2045. 
The department shall adopt rules to implement this subsection. Rules adopted pursuant 
to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 
2-A. 
Sec. 2. Working group convened. The Governor's Energy Office, established 
under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 2, section 9, shall convene an interagency 
working group, referred to in this section as "the working group," to develop a plan to 
transition Maine's public school bus fleet according to goals set forth in Title 20-A, 
section 5401, subsection 15-A. The working group must, at a minimum, consist of 
representatives from the Department of Education, the Department of Transportation, the 
Public Utilities Commission, the Efficiency Maine Trust and the transportation working 
group of the Maine Climate Council. 
1. Duties. The working group shall: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" (\" to S.P. 646, L.D. 1894 
A. Review different types of zero-emissions and very-low-emissions school buses 
and the benefits and challenges associated with the different technologies, including, 
but not limited to, electric school buses using lithium ion, molten salt, nickel metal 
hydride and lithium sulfur batteries; school buses using hydrogen fuel cells or 
propane; and hybrid school buses; 
B. Review options for financing the acquisition of electric or other zero-emissions 
school buses in a cost-effective manner for school administrative units; 
C. 
Engage electric utilities and other private entities that have an interest in 
partnering with the Department of Education or school administrative units to acquire 
electric or other zero-emissions school buses; 
D. Review the capacity of electric school buses to support the modernization of the 
State's electric grid through so-called vehicle-to-grid technology; 
E. Assess the need for legislative and rule changes to effectuate the transition to a 
zero-emissions school bus fleet by 2045; and 
F. Assess the need for training and education that school administrative units will 
require to maintain zero-emissions school buses. 
2. 
Report. 
The working group shall submit its report with findings and 
recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters no later than January 5, 2022. 
Following receipt and review of the report, the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters may submit a bill concerning the 
subject matter of the report to the Second Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report, strikes and replaces the bill, removes 
the emergency preamble and emergency clause and changes the title. The amendment 
directs the Commissioner of Education, in approving school bus purchases, contracts and 
leases, to the extent practicable to grant such approvals in a manner to meet the goals of 
reducing greenhouse gas emissions of the public school bus fleet by 75% by 2035 and 
transitioning the public school transportation fleet to 100% zero-emissions school buses 
by 2045. 
The amendment directs the Governor's Energy Office to convene an 
interagency working group to develop a plan to transition Maine's public school bus fleet 
to achieve these goals. 
The working group must, at a minimum, consist of 
representatives from the Department of Education, the Department of Transportation, the 
Public Utilities Commission, the Efficiency Maine Trust and the Maine Climate Council's 
transportation working group. 
The interagency working group is directed to submit 
findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters no later than 
January 5, 2022. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Revised: 03/06/20 frac 
LD 1894 
LR 2925(02) 
An Act To Incentivize the Purchase of Electric Public School Buses 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment"~'(_ s-Lt3. ~ 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Future goals may require funding 
This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to approve the purchase, lease or contracting of school buses to the 
extent practicable in a manner designed to meet a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions of the public school bus 
fleet by 75% by 2035 and to transition the public school bus fleet to 100% zero emissions by 2045. According to the 
department, school buses that reduce green house gas emissions are more expensive to purchase than the school buses 
that use gas or diesel. To the extent that the commissioner approves the purchase of lower emission or 100% zero-
emission school buses and no additional funds are provided, fewer buses will be approved. To the extent that the 
co1mnissioner does not find it practicable to approve the purchase of lower-e1nission or 100% zero emission school 
buses, the goals specified in the bill may not be met. 
Additional costs to the Department of Transportation, Governor's Energy Office, Efficiency Maine Trust and the 
Public Utilities C01mnission associated with serving on the working group can be absorbed within existing budgeted 
resources. 
LR2925(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1