BILL NUMBER:S1611

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the executive law, in relation to the "state workforce fuel
reduction and conservation act"

PURPOSE:
Provides for a state workforce fuel reduction and conservation program
which will develop and assist in implementing strategies to reduce
fuel consumption.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one establishes the "State Workforce Fuel Reduction and
Conservation Act."

Section two:

* directs the Office of General Services (OGS) to review the State's
vehicular fleet as well as the use of that fleet, to determine
whether alternative fuel vehicles can be used, and whether trip
reduction can be used to reduce gasoline consumption; and

* directs OGS, in conjunction with the Governor's Office of Employee
relations and the Office for Technology, to issue a report setting
              

forth a specific plan to reduce the number of solo motor vehicle
trips between home and the workplace by state employees and state
contractors.

Section three directs State agencies to establish programs to increase
the average passenger occupancy per vehicle in commuting trips
between home and the workplace.

Section four directs each State agency to perform fuel efficiency
audits of their fleets.

Section five directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to develop
programs to educate the driving public on "smart driving", trip
reduction, and vehicle maintenance practices.

Section six prohibits any part of this Act from impairing any
collective bargaining agreements.

Section seven is the enacting date.

EXISTING LAW:
This legislation adds a new section to Executive Law.

JUSTIFICATION:
The United States uses a lot of energy - nearly a million dollars
worth of energy each minute, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
with less than five percent of the world's population, we. consume
almost one quarter of the world's energy resources.


The average American consumes six times the world average per capita
consumption of energy. Every time we fill up our vehicles or open our
utility bills, we are reminded of the economic impacts of energy.
As the third most populous state in the union, with over 19 million
people, New York contains 15% of the country's people, so we could
say that New Yorkers use $150,000 worth of energy each and every
minute of the day.

The choices we make now about how we use energy -- turning machines
off when not in use or choosing to buy energy efficient appliances -
will have increasing impacts on the quality of our environment and
lives.

There are many things we can do to use less energy and use it more
wisely. These things involve energy conservation and energy efficiency.

Efficiency and conservation are key components of energy
sustainability the concept that every generation should meet their
energy needs without compromising the energy needs of future
generations. Energy sustainability focuses on long-term energy
strategies and policies that ensure adequate energy to meet today's
needs, as well as tomorrow's.

Beyond conservation, states have little leverage over the cost of
gasoline because it is a commodity traded on world markets. The
bottom line is, we've got to use less.

Today's gas price crisis provides us in New York state with an
opportunity to get our own energy house in order. New York State
government is a major consumer of energy, spending approximately $300
million a year just on energy costs alone, New York's agencies and
authorities annually consume nearly 50 million gallons of diesel fuel
and 55 million gallons of heating oil.

The State's workforce numbers nearly 160,000, and because the average
American uses 500 gallons of gasoline every year, driving each
vehicle about 12,000 miles, at $3.00 per gallon that equals $1500 a
year in fuel costs per worker.

We need to address things like limiting all nonessential travel by
state employees and State use of SUVs, and addressing soaring fuel
prices by implementing programs to reduce fuel consumption by state
employees, agencies, and authorities. This legislation aims to do
just that.

Implementing the strategy of conservation and efficiency measures,
backed by strong education components outlined in this legislation,
may be the most effective strategy we have to sharply curtail our
dependence of foreign oil, while making historic strides in improving
our environmental quality and reducing our energy consumption.

This bill calls for a comprehensive program to provide the State's work-
force agencies and authorities with leadership roles in moving New
York State toward becoming the model fuel conservation state.

The bill will:


* direct the Office of General Services to review the State's
vehicular fleet as well as the use of that fleet, to determine
whether alternative fuel vehicles can be used, and whether trip
reduction can be used to reduce gasoline consumption

* direct OGS to develop and properly promote a comprehensive car
pooling program * direct all state agencies to perform fuel
efficiency audits of their own transportation systems and fleets

* authorize agencies to implement commuter trip reduction programs that
will encourage employees who drive alone to work to consider using an
alternative commute mode such as car or van pools, mass transit,
biking or walking

* authorize agencies and authorities to permit alternative work
schedules ox telecommuting for all state employees where possible

* direct the Department of Motor Vehicles to develop programs to
educate the driving public on conservation techniques, and

* direct OGS to study a plan to reimburse State employees for their
mass transit costs

The best way to work our way out of our energy crisis is through a
concentrated effort by all of us to conserve, to use energy efficient
appliances, cars, buildings and lifestyles, and to lead by example by
making New York a model state toward an energy efficient future.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2011-12: S1044A/A.6159 - Referred to Investigations & Gov't Ops
2010: S.2273A/A.476 - Reported and Committed to Finance
2008: S.2649 2006: S.8245

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None to State.

LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None to localities.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
The act shall take effect immediately.