State vehicle fleet: purchases.

Existing law requires all new state fleet purchases made by the Department of General Services and other state entities of certain passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks to meet the fuel economy standard established by the department, in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. Existing law requires the Secretary of Government Operations, in consultation with the department and other state agencies, to develop and implement a plan to improve the overall state fleet's use of alternative fuels, synthetic lubricants, and fuel-efficient vehicles by reducing or displacing the consumption of petroleum products by the state fleet. This bill would, except as provided, require, 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 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. The bill would require, if the department finds, in a public hearing on or after December 31, 2026, that it cannot meet the needs of the state while meeting this requirement, the department to disclose this finding at the hearing and to the Legislature. The bill would require, upon disclosure of this finding, the department to take certain steps to address the issues preventing the department and other state agencies from meeting this state fleet requirement. The bill would require, after a specified time period, if the department finds, in a public hearing, that it still cannot meet the needs of the state after taking those steps, 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.