State vehicle fleet: near-zero-emission vehicles.

Existing law, except as provided, requires, beginning December 31, 2025, at least 15% of newly purchased vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 19,000 pounds or more purchased by the Department of General Services and other state entities for the state fleet to be zero emission, and beginning December 31, 2030, at least 30% of those vehicles to be zero emission. This bill would additionally require, beginning January 1, 2022, at least 15% of newly purchased vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 19,000 pounds or more purchased by the department and other state entities for the state fleet to be fueled by renewable natural gas that furthers the state's air quality improvement goals, as specified. The bill, if the department finds in a public hearing on or after January 1, 2023, that it cannot meet the needs of the state while meeting this requirement, would require the department to disclose this finding at the hearing and to the Legislature. The bill would require the department, upon disclosure of this finding, to take certain steps to address the issues preventing the department and other state agencies from meeting this state fleet requirement. The bill, after a specified time period and if the department finds in a public hearing that it still cannot meet the needs of the state after taking those steps, would require the department to disclose this finding at the hearing and to the Legislature. The bill would provide that the requirement would be inoperative on the latter date on which the department notifies the Legislature.