SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1818

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 15, 1997

      The Senate Transportation Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 1818 with committee amendments.

      This amended bill directs the Department of Transportation to permit alternative fuel vehicles to operate in high occupancy vehicle lanes throughout the State and receive the same priority treatment as high occupancy vehicles.

      This bill defines an "alternative fuel vehicle" as a motor vehicle that is a dedicated alternative fuel vehicle or a dual-fuel alternative fuel vehicle. "Alternative fuel" means methanol, denatured ethanol, and other alcohols; mixtures containing 85% or more by volume of methanol, denatured ethanol, and other alcohols with gasoline or other fuels; natural gas; liquefied petroleum gas (propane); hydrogen; coal-derived liquid fuels; fuels (other than alcohol) derived from biological materials; and electricity.

      The committee amended the bill by deleting the definition of "alternative fuel vehicle" contained in subsection b. of section 1 and providing a definition of that term as a dedicated alternative fuel vehicle or a dual-fuel alternative fuel vehicle. In addition, the amendments provide a definition of alternative fuel, dedicated alternative fuel vehicle and dual-fuel alternative fuel vehicle.