BILL REQ. #:  H-3550.1 

Read first time 01/13/2006.   Referred to Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability.

     AN ACT Relating to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; amending RCW 43.19.570; reenacting and amending RCW 43.19.1905; and adding a new section to chapter 43.19 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 43.19.1905 and 2002 c 299 s 5 and 2002 c 285 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     The director of general administration shall establish overall state policy for compliance by all state agencies, including educational institutions, regarding the following purchasing and material control functions:
     (1) Development of a state commodity coding system, including common stock numbers for items maintained in stores for reissue;
     (2) Determination where consolidations, closures, or additions of stores operated by state agencies and educational institutions should be initiated;
     (3) Institution of standard criteria for determination of when and where an item in the state supply system should be stocked;
     (4) Establishment of stock levels to be maintained in state stores, and formulation of standards for replenishment of stock;
     (5) Formulation of an overall distribution and redistribution system for stock items which establishes sources of supply support for all agencies, including interagency supply support;
     (6) Determination of what function data processing equipment, including remote terminals, shall perform in statewide purchasing and material control for improvement of service and promotion of economy;
     (7) Standardization of records and forms used statewide for supply system activities involving purchasing, receiving, inspecting, storing, requisitioning, and issuing functions, including a standard notification form for state agencies to report cost-effective direct purchases, which shall at least identify the price of the goods as available through the division of purchasing, the price of the goods as available from the alternative source, the total savings, and the signature of the notifying agency's director or the director's designee;
     (8) Screening of supplies, material, and equipment excess to the requirements of one agency for overall state need before sale as surplus;
     (9) Establishment of warehouse operation and storage standards to achieve uniform, effective, and economical stores operations;
     (10) Establishment of time limit standards for the issuing of material in store and for processing requisitions requiring purchase;
     (11) Formulation of criteria for determining when centralized rather than decentralized purchasing shall be used to obtain maximum benefit of volume buying of identical or similar items, including procurement from federal supply sources;
     (12) Development of criteria for use of leased, rather than state owned, warehouse space based on relative cost and accessibility;
     (13) Institution of standard criteria for purchase and placement of state furnished materials, carpeting, furniture, fixtures, and nonfixed equipment, in newly constructed or renovated state buildings;
     (14) Determination of how transportation costs incurred by the state for materials, supplies, services, and equipment can be reduced by improved freight and traffic coordination and control;
     (15) Establishment of a formal certification program for state employees who are authorized to perform purchasing functions as agents for the state under the provisions of chapter 43.19 RCW;
     (16) Development of performance measures for the reduction of total overall expense for material, supplies, equipment, and services used each biennium by the state;
     (17) Establishment of a standard system for all state organizations to record and report dollar savings and cost avoidance which are attributable to the establishment and implementation of improved purchasing and material control procedures;
     (18) Development of procedures for mutual and voluntary cooperation between state agencies, including educational institutions, and political subdivisions for exchange of purchasing and material control services;
     (19) Resolution of all other purchasing and material matters which require the establishment of overall statewide policy for effective and economical supply management;
     (20) Development of guidelines and criteria for the purchase of vehicles, high gas mileage vehicles, alternate vehicle fuels, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and systems, equipment, and materials that reduce overall energy-related costs and energy use by the state, including investigations into all opportunities to aggregate the purchasing of clean technologies, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, by state and local governments, and including the requirement that new passenger vehicles purchased by the state meet the minimum standards for passenger automobile fuel economy established by the United States secretary of transportation pursuant to the energy policy and conservation act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 2002);
     (21) Development of goals for state use of recycled or environmentally preferable products through specifications for products and services, processes for requests for proposals and requests for qualifications, contractor selection, and contract negotiations.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.19.570 and 2002 c 285 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall direct and be responsible for the acquisition, operation, maintenance, storage, repair, and replacement of state motor vehicles under its control. The department shall utilize state facilities available for the maintenance, repair, and storage of such motor vehicles, and may provide directly or by contract for the maintenance, repair, and servicing of all motor vehicles, and other property related thereto and under its control.
     (2) The department may arrange, by agreement with agencies, for the utilization by one of the storage, repair, or maintenance facilities of another, with such provision for charges and credits as may be agreed upon. The department may acquire and maintain storage, repair, and maintenance facilities for the motor vehicles under its control from such funds as may be appropriated by the legislature.
     (3)(a) The legislature finds that a clean environment is important and that global warming effects may be offset by decreasing the emissions of harmful compounds from motor vehicles. The legislature further finds that the state is in a position to set an example of large scale use of alternative fuels in motor vehicles and other clean technologies, including the use of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
     (b) The department shall consider the use of state vehicles to conduct field tests on alternative fuels in areas where air pollution constraints may be eased by these optional fuels. These fuels should include but are not limited to gas-powered and electric-powered vehicles.
     (c) For planned purchases of vehicles using alternative fuels or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, the department and other state agencies shall explore opportunities to purchase these vehicles together with the federal government, agencies of other states, other Washington state agencies, local governments, or private organizations for less cost. All state agencies must investigate and determine whether or not they can make clean technologies, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, more cost-effective by combining their purchasing power before completing a planned vehicle purchase.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.19 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department must solicit the purchase of one hundred plug-in hybrid electric vehicles for use in the state motor pool by November 30, 2010.
     (2) For purposes of this section and RCW 43.19.1905 and 43.19.570, "plug-in hybrid electric vehicle" is a hybrid vehicle that:
     (a) Can run for several miles on battery power alone; and
     (b) Can be plugged in to the electric grid in order to recharge its batteries.