Establishes the 2014 alternative fuel and electric vehicle incentive program

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1: The act shall be known and maybe cited as the "2014 alternative fuel and electric vehicle incentive program".

Section 2: the public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 389 to read as follows: Any person who has an electronic toll collection system account with the authority shall receive a 26% discount on tolls incurred on New York State for a period of two years after the vehicle purchased.

Section 3: subdivision (d) of section 306 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 608 of the law of 1993, is amended to read as follows: no person shell issue a certificate of inspection for a motor vehicle which do not comply with the standards prescribe by the rules and regulation established by the commissioner of environmental conservation. However, any electric vehicle shall be exempt from the provisions of this subdivision.

Section 4: subdivision 6 of section 401 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new paragraph c-1 to read as follows: the provision of this subdivision with respect to the payment of registration fees shall not apply to the first year of registration of any new electric vehicle.

Section 5: the, vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 1203-i to read as follows: any person driving a plug-in electronic hybrid vehicle or electric vehicle shall be entitled to parking at a meter without charge if the municipality designates such motors as free of charge for use by such vehicles.

Section 6: the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 1229-e to read as follows: high occupancy vehicle lanes; use by alternative fuel vehicle, electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid are authorized to drive on any high occupancy vehicle lane provided that the vehicle display a New York, state clean pass sticker form the department of motor vehicles.

Justification

New York State has no incentives on the books on alternative fuel and electric vehicles. The "2014 alternative fuel and electric vehicle incentive program" would provide specific tax incentive for the purchase of vehicles. Green technologies would be used in order to increase consumer demand for such vehicles. Currently New York's only incentive exist on Long Island in that region, they are allowed to use bus lanes on highways if they have a special decal issued by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

The creation of the "2014 alternative fuel and electric vehicle incentives program" would decrease the amount of gas emitted to the ozone developing environmental benefits.

Prior legislative history

New Legislation

Fiscal implications for state and local government

None based on the fact that the tax breaks given to purchasers of electric and/or hybrid automobiles will create a demand for such vehicles that otherwise would not exist therefore bringing in tax revenue for these higher priced automobiles. In addition, the benefits to helping to improve air quality in NYS are immeasurable. The US EPA has labeled NYS as one of the places in the nation with the worst air quality. This problem contributes to NYS having the highest rates of asthma in the nation and related medical care. In addition, creating incentives for electric cars will help grow electric battery industry in NYS, thereby creating additional tax revenue from the expansion of these plants in both human end physical resources and from the sale of such batteries.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law, provided however, the provisions of sections seven of this act shall expire on January 1, 2016 when upon such date the provisions of such section shall be deemed repealed.