SR 1048: Senate Mileage Based User Fee Study Committee; create

Senate Resolution 1048

By: Senators Still of the 48th, Dolezal of the 27th, Dixon of the 45th and McNeel of the 18th

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Senate Mileage Based User Fee Study Committee; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, alternative fueled motor vehicle owners are required to pay an annual licensing fee for operation of such vehicles on Georgia's roadways; and

WHEREAS, many alternative fueled motor vehicle owners who drive electric vehicles are overpaying or underpaying their fair share for road maintenance costs compared to motor vehicle owners who pay the motor fuel tax; and

WHEREAS, the nexus between funding to keep the roads and bridges of this state in good repair and the fair allocation of the costs to maintain state's highways to various users remains a priority of the legislature; and

WHEREAS, a mileage based user fee program is an alternative to a set annual licensing fee for alternative fueled vehicles that could provide better equity between vehicles that are fueled by electricity and those fueled by gasoline or diesel; and

WHEREAS, it is important that consultation occur with government agencies and entities that might provide useful information for the establishment and implementation of a mileage based user fee program; and

WHEREAS, industry experts could provide necessary information on whether such program could be best implemented by a state agency or by a third party contractor; and

WHEREAS, a mileage based user fee program could allow for electric vehicle owners to pay their fair share of what is needed to maintain Georgia's roads that more accurately represents such owner's use of such roads than the current alternative fueled vehicle annual licensing fee; and

WHEREAS, it is vital that the privacy of program participants is considered with any mileage based user fee program; and

WHEREAS, analysis is needed for what fees could be set in a mileage based user program that would result in proper funding for infrastructure that equals those contributions by nonelectric vehicle owners; and

WHEREAS, study of the strengths and weaknesses of mileage based user fee programs operating in other states is needed; and

WHEREAS, recommendations and decisions are needed on policies relating to establishing a mileage based user fee program, including, but not limited to, policies which could:

(1) Allow for monthly or quarterly payments;

(2) Easily enroll electric vehicle owners as participants in the mileage based user fee program;

(3) Cost effectively capture accurate odometer data and then accurately bill, successfully collect, and correctly remit fees collected without ever tracking the location of such electric vehicles;

(4) Establish best methods for prepayment, account balance minimum, and balance replenishment;

(5) Support monitoring and audit activities of an administration program as necessary to review the activities of an account manager's compliance with contract provisions;

(6) Ensure account manager responsibility for high quality customer service;

(7) Provide charge information to each enrolled vehicle owner, which may include vehicle miles traveled over each billing period, an overview of usage charge calculation, and any offsets based on estimated fuel taxes paid;

(8) Govern terms and conditions for enrolled vehicle owners;

(9) Arrange for timely reports of delinquent accounts and collection of past due program fees plus interest before the vehicle can be registered for operation on Georgia roadways;

(10) Allow for payment methods and related fee matters; and

(11) Allow for a daily enrollment fee to replace lost revenue between the time a vehicle owner enrolls in the mileage based user fee program and the date that miles traveled are first calculated for the initial mileage based user fee program bill.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:

(1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Mileage Based User Fee Study Committee.

(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of the following members to be appointed by the President of the Senate:

(A) Five members of the Senate;

(B) The commissioner of transportation or his or her designee; and

(C) The commissioner of revenue or his or her designee.

The President of the Senate shall designate a legislative member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.

(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.

(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.

(5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.

(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.

(B) Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members, or who are state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on the committee, but they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as members of the committee in the same manner as they are reimbursed for expenses in their capacities as state officials or employees.

(C) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state officials, or state employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance authorized for state employees.

(D) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the Senate; except that funds for the reimbursement of the expenses of state officials, other than legislative members, and for the reimbursement of the expenses of state employees shall come from funds appropriated to or otherwise available to their respective agencies.

(6) Report.

(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with the Secretary of the Senate.

(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.

(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.