4/11/07-A bill in the House has died that was intended to minimize the need for truck drivers to idle their trucks.
Sponsored by Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, HF1280 missed a deadline to advance, effectively killing it for the year. A companion bill in the Senate - SF877 - met the same fate.
The bill would have established a grant program for idling reduction technology purchases. The state could have awarded grants to eligible applicants for up to 50 percent of the purchase and installation costs for one or more qualifying idling reduction devices.
To be eligible, truckers would have been required to be headquartered in the state and pay out of their own pockets at least 50 percent of the purchase and installation cost for each idling reduction device covered by the grant.
Individuals and companies could have applied for grant funds for up to half of their "heavy-duty, diesel-powered, on-highway motor vehicles" owned and operated.
The grant program would have been funded with $2 million from the state's general fund during the next two fiscal years. A maximum of 20 percent of the fiscal year appropriation could have been awarded to any one company. No more than 25 percent of the fiscal year appropriation could have been reserved for companies with up to 20 trucks.
3/13/07-A bill in the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division Committee is intended to minimize the need for truck drivers to idle their trucks.
Sponsored by Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, HF1280 would establish a grant program for idling reduction technology purchases. The state could award grants to eligible applicants for up to 50 percent of the purchase and installation costs for one or more qualifying idling reduction devices.
To be eligible, truckers must be headquartered in the state and pay out of their own pockets at least 50 percent of the purchase and installation cost for each idling reduction device covered by the grant. Truckers also must agree to collect and report information relating to the operation and performance of each idling reduction device covered by the grant.
Individuals and companies could apply for grant funds for up to half of their "heavy-duty, diesel-powered, on-highway motor vehicles" owned and operated.
The grant program would be funded with $2 million from the state's general fund during the next two fiscal years. A maximum of 20 percent of the fiscal year appropriation could be awarded to any one company. No more than 25 percent of the fiscal year appropriation could be reserved for companies with up to 20 trucks.
For House bill status, call (651) 296-6646.
The companion bill - SF877 - is in the Senate Finance Committee.
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