(a) (1) On or before January 1, 2023, the Department of General Services shall maximize the purchase and availability of alternative fuel vehicles, such as battery electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, in the state fleet by adopting a procurement method to evaluate those vehicles. The procurement method may evaluate those vehicles based only on cost or also on any environmental or energy benefits of those vehicles.

(2) For the purchase of passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks powered solely by an internal combustion engine, the Department of General Services shall evaluate the cost and the environmental and energy benefits for potential procurement by state and local governments. The evaluations shall consider both of the following criteria:

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(A) The reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases, air pollutant emissions, and petroleum use on a full fuel-cycle basis, to the extent possible, based on existing data available to the State Air Resources Board, the commission, or other reliable sources, including the California Strategy to Reduce Petroleum Dependence developed pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 25720 and the state plan to increase the use of alternative transportation fuels developed pursuant to § 43866 of the Health and Safety Code.

(B) The total costs of ownership of the vehicle and life-cycle impacts.

(b) The Department of General Services shall revise its procedures for the procurement of state and local government vehicles based on the necessary performance specifications of the vehicles to perform the required work or tasks of the vehicles in the fleet. The Department of General Services shall establish vehicle “classes” depending on the required work or tasks and the necessary performance specifications.

(c) For the purpose of state fleet procurement, both of the following shall apply:

(1) Available vehicles powered solely by an internal combustion engine in individual classes shall be evaluated for purchase or lease using the method and criteria developed pursuant to subdivision (a).

(2) Vehicles shall be procured for use in the state fleet that meet all requirements established by the federal government, including, but not limited to, the federal Energy Policy Act of 1992, Public Law 102-486, if applicable.

(d) The Department of General Services shall evaluate vehicles for potential addition to the state and local fleets, as described in this section, on an annual basis, reflecting annual new vehicle availability.

(e) A vehicle capable of using alternative fuels shall be operated on those fuels to the maximum extent practicable unless alternative fuels are not readily available or other factors exist that may prevent the use of those fuels in the area in which the vehicle is used.

(f) The Department of General Services shall do both of the following:

(1) During the normal course of coordination and contracting with nearby fueling stations, provide information related to the alternative fuel vehicles in the state fleet and request the stations to provide a fuel supply to meet that demand.

(2) When replacing, retrofitting, or installing a fueling tank or infrastructure at a facility that fuels state vehicles, the Department of General Services shall consider requesting competitive bids for alternative fuel infrastructure that would meet the needs of vehicles used, or planned to be used, in that facility.

(g) Authorized emergency vehicles, as defined in § 165 of the Vehicle Code, that are equipped with emergency lamps or lights, as described in § 25252 of the Vehicle Code, are exempt from the requirements of this section.

(h) Each state office, agency, or department seeking to purchase or lease a sport utility vehicle or four-wheel drive vehicle shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Director of General Services or the entity that purchases or leases vehicles that the vehicle is required to perform an essential function of the office, agency, or department. If it is so demonstrated, priority consideration shall be given to the purchase or lease of an alternative fuel or hybrid sports utility vehicle or four-wheel drive vehicle.

(i) Pursuant to Article IX of the California Constitution, this section does not apply to the University of California except to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution, make this section applicable.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 152, Sec. 2. (SB 1305) Effective January 1, 2023.)