    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 128, 113th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 113-125
    113th Congress

    An Act

    To address current emergency shortages of propane and other home heating
    fuels and to provide greater flexibility and information for Governors
    to address such emergencies in the future. <>

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
    United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
    SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Reliable Home Heating Act''.
    SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO EXTEND EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS FOR PURPOSES OF
    TEMPORARILY EXEMPTING MOTOR CARRIERS PROVIDING
    EMERGENCY RELIEF FROM CERTAIN SAFETY
    REGULATIONS.

    (a) Defined Term.--In this Act, the term ``residential heating
    fuel'' includes--
    (1) heating oil;
    (2) natural gas; and
    (3) propane.

    (b) <>  Authorization.--If the
    Governor of a State declares a state of emergency caused by a shortage
    of residential heating fuel and, at the conclusion of the initial 30-day
    emergency period (or a second 30-day emergency period authorized under
    this subsection), the Governor determines that the emergency shortage
    has not ended, any extension of such state of emergency by the Governor,
    up to 2 additional 30-day periods, shall be recognized by the Federal
    Motor Carrier Safety Administration as a period during which parts 390
    through 399 of chapter III of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations,
    shall not apply to any motor carrier or driver operating a commercial
    motor vehicle to provide residential heating fuel in the geographic area
    so designated as under a state of emergency.

    (c) Rulemaking.--The Secretary of Transportation shall amend section
    390.23(a)(1)(ii) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to conform to
    the provision set forth in subsection (b).
    (d) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section may be construed to
    modify the authority granted to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
    Administration's Field Administrator under section 390.23(a) of title
    49, Code of Federal Regulations, to offer temporary exemptions from
    parts 390 through 399 of such title.
    SEC. 3. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION NOTIFICATION
    REQUIREMENT.

    The Administrator of the Energy Information Administration, using
    data compiled from the Administration's Weekly Petroleum

    [[Page 1389]]

    Status Reports, shall notify the Governor of each State in a Petroleum
    Administration for Defense District if the inventory of residential
    heating fuel within such district has been below the most recent 5-year
    average for more than 3 consecutive weeks.
    SEC. 4. <>  REVIEW.

    Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
    the Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study of, and transmit
    to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate
    and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
    Representatives, a report on the impacts of safety from the extensions
    issued by Governors according to this Act. In conducting the study, the
    Secretary shall review, at a minimum--
    (1) the safety implications of extending exemptions; and
    (2) a review of the exemption process to ensure clarity and
    efficiency during emergencies.

    Approved June 30, 2014.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2086:
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    SENATE REPORTS: No. 113-162 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and
    Transportation).
    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 160 (2014):
    May 21, considered and passed Senate.
    June 23, considered and passed House.