The following portion of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (HR22) relates to electric vehicle charging infrastructure. It includes language introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie to authorize the operation of EV charging stations in parking areas used by federal employees. This was originally introduced as the EV-COMUTE Act of 2014 by Rep. Zoe Lofgren before being amended to the Surface Transportation bill, now signed into law by the President.
SEC. 1413. National electric vehicle charging and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling corridors.
(c) Operation of battery recharging stations in parking areas used by Federal employees.—
(1) AUTHORIZATION.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of General Services may install, construct, operate, and maintain on a reimbursable basis a battery recharging station (or allow, on a reimbursable basis, the use of a 120-volt electrical receptacle for battery recharging) in a parking area that is in the custody, control, or administrative jurisdiction of the General Services Administration for the use of only privately owned vehicles of employees of the General Services Administration, tenant Federal agencies, and others who are authorized to park in such area to the extent such use by only privately owned vehicles does not interfere with or impede access to the equipment by Federal fleet vehicles.
(B) AREAS UNDER OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The Administrator of General Services (on the request of a Federal agency) or the head of a Federal agency may install, construct, operate, and maintain on a reimbursable basis a battery recharging station (or allow, on a reimbursable basis, the use of a 120-volt electrical receptacle for battery recharging) in a parking area that is in the custody, control, or administrative jurisdiction of the requesting Federal agency, to the extent such use by only privately owned vehicles does not interfere with or impede access to the equipment by Federal fleet vehicles.
(C) USE OF VENDORS.—The Administrator of General Services, with respect to subparagraph (A) or (B), or the head of a Federal agency, with respect to subparagraph (B), may carry out such subparagraph through a contract with a vendor, under such terms and conditions (including terms relating to the allocation between the Federal agency and the vendor of the costs of carrying out the contract) as the Administrator or the head of the Federal agency, as the case may be, and the vendor may agree to.
(2) IMPOSITION OF FEES TO COVER COSTS.—
(A) FEES.—The Administrator of General Services or the head of the Federal agency under paragraph (1)(B) shall charge fees to the individuals who use the battery recharging station in such amount as is necessary to ensure that the respective agency recovers all of the costs such agency incurs in installing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the station.
(B) DEPOSIT AND AVAILABILITY OF FEES.—Any fees collected by the Administrator of General Services or the Federal agency, as the case may be, under this paragraph shall be—
(i) deposited monthly in the Treasury to the credit of the respective agency’s appropriations account for the operations of the building where the battery recharging station is located; and
(ii) available for obligation without further appropriation during—
(I) the fiscal year collected; and
(II) the fiscal year following the fiscal year collected.
(3) NO EFFECT ON EXISTING PROGRAMS FOR HOUSE AND SENATE.—Nothing in this subsection affects the installation, construction, operation, or maintenance of battery recharging stations by the Architect of the Capitol—
(A) under Public Law 112–170 (2 U.S.C. 2171), relating to employees of the House of Representatives and individuals authorized to park in any parking area under the jurisdiction of the House of Representatives on the Capitol Grounds; or
(B) under Public Law 112–167 (2 U.S.C. 2170), relating to employees of the Senate and individuals authorized to park in any parking area under the jurisdiction of the Senate on the Capitol Grounds.
(4) NO EFFECT ON SIMILAR AUTHORITIES.—Nothing in this subsection—
(A) repeals or limits any existing authorities of a Federal agency to install, construct, operate, or maintain battery recharging stations; or
(B) requires a Federal agency to seek reimbursement for the costs of installing or constructing a battery recharging station—
(i) that has been installed or constructed prior to the date of enactment of this Act;
(ii) that is installed or constructed for Federal fleet vehicles, but that receives incidental use to recharge privately owned vehicles; or
(iii) that is otherwise installed or constructed pursuant to appropriations for that purpose.
(5) ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 10 years, the Administrator of General Services shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report describing—
(A) the number of battery recharging stations installed by the Administrator on the Administrator’s own initiative under this subsection;
(B) requests from other Federal agencies to install battery recharging stations; and
(C) the status and disposition of requests from other Federal agencies.
(6) FEDERAL AGENCY DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term “Federal agency” has the meaning given the term “Executive agency” in section 105 of title 5, United States Code, and includes—
(A) the United States Postal Service;
(B) the Executive Office of the President;
(C) the military departments (as defined in section 102 of title 5, United States Code); and
(D) the judicial branch.
(7) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2016 and each succeeding fiscal year.
Source: H.R. 22 text
