[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 553 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 553

    To amend title 23, United States Code, to provide for HOV-lane 
            exemptions for low-emission and hybrid vehicles.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 8, 2005

  Mrs. Feinstein (for herself and Mr. Allen) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment 
                            and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend title 23, United States Code, to provide for HOV-lane 
            exemptions for low-emission and hybrid vehicles.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. HOV-LANE EXEMPTION FOR LOW-EMISSION AND HYBRID VEHICLES

    Section 102(a)(2) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking the first sentence and inserting the 
        following:
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a 
                State may permit a vehicle with fewer than 2 occupants 
                to operate in high occupancy vehicle lanes if the 
                vehicle is--
                            ``(i)(I) certified as meeting the 
                        inherently low-emission vehicle evaporative 
                        emission standard under part 88 of title 40, 
                        Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor 
                        regulation) (including a vehicle produced 
                        before or during the 2004 model year that meets 
                        that standard); and
                            ``(II) labeled in accordance with section 
                        88.312-93(c) of title 40, Code of Federal 
                        Regulations (or a successor regulation); or
                            ``(ii) a motor vehicle that--
                                    ``(I) draws propulsion energy from 
                                onboard sources of stored energy 
                                produced or stored by--
                                            ``(aa) an internal 
                                        combustion or heat engine using 
                                        combustible fuel; and
                                            ``(bb) a rechargeable 
                                        energy storage system that 
                                        provides at least 5 percent of 
                                        the maximum available power; 
                                        and
                                    ``(II) meets such other 
                                requirements or criteria as may be 
                                specified by the State.''; and
            (2) in the second sentence, by striking ``Such permission'' 
        and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) Revocation.--The permission under 
                subparagraph (A)''.
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