Section 2580 Of Chapter 15.5. Vanpool Financing From California Streets And Highways Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 15.5.
2580
. (a) The Department of Transportation may make loans to other
state agencies for the purpose of purchasing vanpool vehicles, as
defined by subdivision (b) of Section 2570, for state employee
vanpooling. The purchased vehicles, to the extent practicable, shall
be either "low-emission vehicles," as defined by Section 39037.05 of
the Health and Safety Code, or "alternative fuel vehicles," which are
either of the following:
(1) An original equipment manufactured vehicle capable of
operating on a nonpetroleum-based alternative fuel such as
electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol, or
natural gas and that has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the
State Air Resources Board the ability to meet applicable California
emission standards.
(2) A vehicle that has been converted to use a nonpetroleum-based
alternative fuel such as electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, liquefied
petroleum gas, methanol, or natural gas through the installation of
an alternative fuel retrofit system that has been certified by the
State Air Resources Board.
(b) The department shall establish criteria and adopt guidelines
for making the loans and for the purchase of vanpool vehicles,
including, but not limited to, requirements on the type of vehicles
authorized for purchase, areas within the state eligible for the
vehicles' operation, types of routes for the vehicles' operation, and
agencies which are authorized to participate in the program. State
agencies may submit loan applications to the department for approval.
State agencies receiving loans and purchasing vehicles pursuant to
this section shall be responsible for all of the following:
(1) Operational responsibilities for the vehicles, including, but
not limited to, vehicle maintenance and repair.
(2) Administration of departmental rideshare programs, including,
but not limited to, ridership development and retention.
(3) Compliance with applicable state and federal laws and
regulations, including driver and vehicle certification, licenses,
and vehicle registration.
(4) Retaining title to vanpool vehicles purchased.
(5) Repayment of the loan for the purchase of the vanpool vehicle.
(c) An agency which receives a loan for the purchase of a vanpool
vehicle pursuant to this section shall charge each employee
participating in the vanpooling program a monthly fee in an amount
determined by the agency. Proceeds of the fees shall be sufficient to
fully reimburse the agency for repayment of the loan and for the
operational cost of the vanpool vehicle. The operational cost
includes, at a minimum, fuel, maintenance, and repairs. The agency
shall maintain records to demonstrate that the vanpooling program
which it operates is self-supporting.
(d) Funds for loans for purposes of this section shall be provided
in the annual Budget Act.