Legislation to Increase Access to Zero-Emission Vehicles for Rural and Small Municipalities Passes Assembly Committee; AB 1110, sponsored by NextGen, passes on the heels of the EPA announcing California can continue to set their own emissions limit on cars and SUVs

SACRAMENTO – On Tuesday, April 27 Assembly Bill 1110, the California Clean Fleet Accelerator Program, by Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) passed the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development & the Economy with bipartisan support. This legislation will help smaller local government entities navigate and gain access to technical assistance and incentive programs to replace their fossil fuel-powered fleets with zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). “Transportation emissions is the highest emitter of carbon in our state,” said Asm. Rivas. “If we are serious about tackling climate change, we need to ensure every municipality or local government, regardless of size, has access to zero-emission trucks, school buses, and transit buses, which can cost much less over time to own and operate than older, gas-guzzling vehicles. Small and rural cities, school districts, and transit operators deserve access to the same kinds of technical assistance, financing options and cost savings that the state and larger entities currently enjoy. This benefits everyone.” The California Clean Fleet Accelerator Program has three primary functions: · It provides technical assistance to local school districts, small government entities, and other public entities to adopt ZEV fleets · It helps reduce the purchase price of clean trucks and buses by streamlining bulk purchase orders for multiple entities at a time · It gives schools, towns, and small transit agencies access to low cost financing so they can start saving money right away by upgrading their oldest and dirtiest vehicles “There is an urgent need to help small and rural towns, schools, and transit operators save money while also gaining access to clean vehicles,” said David Weiskopf, Senior Policy Advisor for NextGen, which is the sponsor of AB 1110. “This bill responds to that need and will bring the same kind of tools that are available to larger cities and county governments to the rest of the state’s public entities.” The passage of AB 1110 comes a day after the EPA announced that California can continue to set their own pollution standards for cars and SUVs. This legislation is in line with the State’s pursuit to reduce the use of fossil fuel vehicles in order to tackle carbon emissions. The bill is now headed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. “At a time when women-owned small businesses are growing, their success can be stunted by antiquated family attribution rules,” said Congressman Panetta. “This bipartisan legislation would modernize those rules and ensure compliance with retirement plan laws so that owners are not adversely impacted by their spouse’s business. The Family Attribution Modernization Act would provide this long overdue change to help ensure that the growing number of women-owned businesses are not held back by outdated tax laws.” “Making it easier for workers and families to save for retirement, and incentivizing businesses to offer plans for their employees is a bipartisan priority. There should be parity in this endeavor across the board,” said Rep. Arrington. “Unfortunately, antiquated rules and inequities in the tax code prevent certain small business owners from offering retirement benefits to workers, based on the state in which they reside along with marital and parental status. I am proud to join my colleague, Congressman Panetta, in introducing the bipartisan Family Attribution Modernization Act that will eliminate these disparities while complimenting the SECURE Act and additional landmark retirement legislation to follow”. “Small business owners, and most specifically women small business owners, have too long been constrained by well-intentioned, but archaic rules that no longer apply in today's economy. The Family Attribution Modernization Act will not only help small business owners expand retirement plan coverage to more hard-working Americans, it acknowledges the realities of today's increasingly diverse business ownership," said Brian Graff, CEO of the American Retirement Association. Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) represents California’s 30th Assembly District, which includes all or portions of the cities and towns of Aromas, Big Sur, Chualar, Gilroy, Greenfield, Gonzales, Hollister, King City, Morgan Hill, Salinas, San Martin, San Juan Bautista, Soledad, Spreckels, and Watsonville.