II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 670 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 29, 2011 Mrs. Gillibrand introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To authorize States and their political subdivisions to regulate fuel economy and emissions standards for taxicabs.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Green Taxis Act of 2011.

2.

State fuel economy regulation for taxicabs

Section 32919 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (a)in subsection (a), by striking When and inserting Except as provided under subsection (d), when; and (b)by adding at the end the following: (d)

Taxicabs

Notwithstanding subsection (a), a State or political subdivision of a State may prescribe fuel economy requirements for taxicabs and other automobiles if— (1)such requirements are at least as stringent as applicable Federal requirements; and (2)such taxicabs and other automobiles— (A)are automobiles that are capable of transporting not more than 10 individuals, including the driver; (B)are commercially available or are designed and manufactured pursuant to a contract with such State or political subdivision of such State; (C)are operated for hire pursuant to an operating or regulatory license, permit, or other authorization issued by such State or political subdivision of such State; (D)provide local transportation for a fare determined on the basis of the time or distance traveled or a combination of time and distance traveled; and (E)do not exclusively provide transportation to and from airports. .

3.

State regulation of motor vehicle emissions for taxicabs

Section 209 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7543) is amended by adding at the end the following: (f)

Taxicabs

(1)

Emission standards

Notwithstanding subsection (a), a State or political subdivision of a State may adopt and enforce standards for the control of emissions from new motor vehicles that are taxicabs and other vehicles if such standards will be, in the aggregate, at least as protective of public health and welfare as applicable Federal standards and if such taxicabs and other vehicles— (A)are passenger motor vehicles that are capable of transporting not more than 10 individuals, including the driver; (B)are commercially available or are designed and manufactured pursuant to a contract with such State or political subdivision thereof; (C)are operated for hire pursuant to an operating or regulatory license, permit, or other authorization issued by such State or political subdivision thereof; (D)provide local transportation for a fare determined on the basis of the time or distance traveled or a combination of time and distance traveled; and (E)do not exclusively provide transportation to and from airports. (2)

Evaluation of standards

If each standard of a State or a political subdivision of a State is at least as stringent as the comparable applicable Federal standard, such standard of such State or political subdivision of such State shall be deemed at least as protective of health and welfare as such Federal standards for purposes of this subsection. .