| (a) A state agency may not purchase or lease a vehicle
designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons, including
a station wagon, that has a wheel base longer than 113 inches or that
has more than 160 SAE net horsepower, except that the vehicle may
have a wheel base of up to 116 inches or SAE net horsepower of up
to 280 if the vehicle will be converted so that it is capable of using
compressed natural gas or another alternative fuel that results in
comparably lower emissions of oxides of nitrogen, volatile organic
compounds, carbon monoxide, or particulates. The wheel base and horsepower
limitations prescribed by this subsection do not apply to the purchase
or lease of a vehicle to be used primarily for criminal law enforcement
or a bus, motorcycle, pickup, van, truck, three-wheel vehicle, tractor,
or ambulance.
(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of
this section, after September 1, 1991, no motor vehicle may be purchased
or leased for a state agency operating a fleet of more than 15 vehicles,
excluding law enforcement and emergency vehicles, unless that vehicle
is an alternative fuel vehicle.
(c) Requisitions for purchase or lease of vehicles
after September 1, 1991, to a state agency operating a fleet of more
than 15 vehicles, excluding law enforcement or emergency vehicles,
will not be processed by the comptroller unless the requisition specifies
an alternative fuel vehicle, or is accompanied by a request for waiver
in accordance with §20.438 of this title (relating to Effective
Waiver), or a current and valid waiver issued under that section is
on file with the comptroller. If the requisition specifies an alternative
fuel vehicle as a result of a conversion, it must contain certification
as to the anticipated time after delivery that the conversion will
be completed. The conversion must be completed prior to the vehicle
being placed in service, unless hardship would result. In the case
of potential undue hardship, the comptroller may approve use of the
vehicle for one or more periods of 90 days following delivery before
it is converted. A request for waiver submitted with a requisition
will be referred to the division travel and transportation staff and
will be granted or denied in accordance with §20.438 of this
title.
(d) If a waiver is granted or is on file, the comptroller
will process the purchase requisition without undue delay. If a waiver
request is denied, the comptroller will return the requisition to
the agency without further processing.
(e) In accordance with Government Code, §2158.0031,
a state agency authorized to purchase passenger vehicles or other
ground transportation vehicles for general use shall purchase economical,
fuel-efficient vehicles assembled in the United States unless such
a purchase would have a significant detrimental effect on the use
to which the vehicles will be put.
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