2570. For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the
meanings given in this section:
(a) "Vanpool operator" means any person who files an application
and who is approved for a loan or grant under this chapter.
(b) "Vanpool vehicle" means, notwithstanding any other provision
of law, a motor vehicle designed for carrying more than six but less
than 16 persons, including the driver, which is maintained and used
primarily for the work-related transportation of adults for the
purpose of ridesharing.
(c) "Useful life," with respect to a vanpool vehicle, means either
100,000 miles and four years old or 200,000 miles without regard to
age.
2571. The Ridesharing Vanpool Revolving Loan and Grant Fund is
hereby created in the State Treasury. The fund shall be administered
by the department for purposes of making loans and grants to vanpool
operators. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, all
money in the fund is continuously appropriated, without regard to
fiscal years, to the department to carry out the purposes of this
chapter.
2572. Any person may submit an application to the department for a
loan from the fund to purchase a vanpool vehicle for operation by the
person as a vanpool operator. Title to the vehicle shall be retained
by the department until the loan is repaid in full. The loan shall
be repaid over a period of time not to exceed the vehicle's useful
life. Once the loan is repaid in full, title to the vehicle shall be
transferred to the vanpool operator.
2573. The department shall charge a rate of interest for loans made
under this chapter reasonably calculated to ultimately keep the fund
at a constant level and in addition recover the administrative costs
incurred by the department under this chapter.
2574. The vanpool grant program shall be administered by the
department. From funds appropriated to the department for the
purpose, the department shall make grants to persons approved as
vanpool operators for the purchase or lease of vanpool vehicles.
2575. (a) Any person may submit an application to the department
for a grant of not more than 70 percent of the cost to purchase or
lease a new vanpool vehicle or vehicles.
(b) A vanpool operator who receives a purchase grant shall operate
the vanpool vehicle as a vanpool for the useful life of the vehicle.
The vanpool operator's failure to do so shall result in a forfeiture
of the grant, the return of the vanpool vehicle to the department,
and forfeiture of the operator's contribution toward the purchase
price of the vehicle.
(c) Title to the vanpool vehicle shall be retained by the
department until the expiration of the vehicle's useful life. Once
the vanpool vehicle's useful life has been reached, title to the
vehicle shall be transferred to the vanpool operator.
2576. A vanpool operator who receives a lease grant shall operate
the vanpool vehicle as a vanpool for the duration of the lease. The
vanpool operator's failure to do so shall result in a forfeiture of
all rights under the lease, the return of the vanpool vehicle to the
lessor, and forfeiture of the operator's contribution toward the
lease of the vehicle.
2577. All money received by the department under this chapter shall
be deposited in the Ridesharing Vanpool Revolving Loan and Grant
Fund.
2578. (a) The department shall adopt guidelines for the making of
loans and for the purchase and lease of vanpool vehicles. The
guidelines shall, in the case of loans, include, but not be limited
to, a procedure to evaluate the vanpool operator's ability to repay
the loan in a timely fashion, as well as the need for the vanpool
vehicle and other criteria for selecting applicants. The department
shall assign priority in the following descending order:
(1) Vanpools operating on routes with no alternative public
transportation.
(2) Vanpool operators applying for loans or grants for new vanpool
vehicles.
(3) Applicants having previous successful experience as vanpool
operators.
(4) Vanpool operators applying for loans or grants for replacement
vanpool vehicles. For purposes of this paragraph, the vanpool
vehicle to be replaced shall be at least four years old or have
operated 250,000 or more miles, or both.
(b) Concurrently with the award of each loan or grant, the
department shall require each applicant to comply with subdivision
(h) of Section 12804 of the Vehicle Code and Section 34509 of the
Vehicle Code, and the insurance coverage requirements of the
department. The guidelines shall also set forth the limitations on
the nonwork-trip use of the vanpool vehicle, the maximum percentage
of the cost of a vanpool vehicle which may be covered by a loan or
grant under this chapter, and other requirements determined to be
necessary by the department.
(c) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of
Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the
adoption of the guidelines.
2579. A vanpool operator is not eligible for any California income
tax deduction or credit applicable to vanpooling with respect to the
amount of any grant under this chapter.
2580. (a) The Department of Transportation may make loans to other
state agencies for the purpose of purchasing vanpool vehicles, as
defined by subdivision (b) of Section 2570, for state employee
vanpooling. The purchased vehicles, to the extent practicable, shall
be either "low-emission vehicles," as defined by Section 39037.05 of
the Health and Safety Code, or "alternative fuel vehicles," which are
either of the following:
(1) An original equipment manufactured vehicle capable of
operating on a nonpetroleum-based alternative fuel such as
electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol, or
natural gas and that has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the
State Air Resources Board the ability to meet applicable California
emission standards.
(2) A vehicle that has been converted to use a nonpetroleum-based
alternative fuel such as electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, liquefied
petroleum gas, methanol, or natural gas through the installation of
an alternative fuel retrofit system that has been certified by the
State Air Resources Board.
(b) The department shall establish criteria and adopt guidelines
for making the loans and for the purchase of vanpool vehicles,
including, but not limited to, requirements on the type of vehicles
authorized for purchase, areas within the state eligible for the
vehicles' operation, types of routes for the vehicles' operation, and
agencies which are authorized to participate in the program. State
agencies may submit loan applications to the department for approval.
State agencies receiving loans and purchasing vehicles pursuant to
this section shall be responsible for all of the following:
(1) Operational responsibilities for the vehicles, including, but
not limited to, vehicle maintenance and repair.
(2) Administration of departmental rideshare programs, including,
but not limited to, ridership development and retention.
(3) Compliance with applicable state and federal laws and
regulations, including driver and vehicle certification, licenses,
and vehicle registration.
(4) Retaining title to vanpool vehicles purchased.
(5) Repayment of the loan for the purchase of the vanpool vehicle.
(c) An agency which receives a loan for the purchase of a vanpool
vehicle pursuant to this section shall charge each employee
participating in the vanpooling program a monthly fee in an amount
determined by the agency. Proceeds of the fees shall be sufficient to
fully reimburse the agency for repayment of the loan and for the
operational cost of the vanpool vehicle. The operational cost
includes, at a minimum, fuel, maintenance, and repairs. The agency
shall maintain records to demonstrate that the vanpooling program
which it operates is self-supporting.
(d) Funds for loans for purposes of this section shall be provided
in the annual Budget Act.
2570. For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the
meanings given in this section:
(a) "Vanpool operator" means any person who files an application
and who is approved for a loan or grant under this chapter.
(b) "Vanpool vehicle" means, notwithstanding any other provision
of law, a motor vehicle designed for carrying more than six but less
than 16 persons, including the driver, which is maintained and used
primarily for the work-related transportation of adults for the
purpose of ridesharing.
(c) "Useful life," with respect to a vanpool vehicle, means either
100,000 miles and four years old or 200,000 miles without regard to
age.
2571. The Ridesharing Vanpool Revolving Loan and Grant Fund is
hereby created in the State Treasury. The fund shall be administered
by the department for purposes of making loans and grants to vanpool
operators. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, all
money in the fund is continuously appropriated, without regard to
fiscal years, to the department to carry out the purposes of this
chapter.
2572. Any person may submit an application to the department for a
loan from the fund to purchase a vanpool vehicle for operation by the
person as a vanpool operator. Title to the vehicle shall be retained
by the department until the loan is repaid in full. The loan shall
be repaid over a period of time not to exceed the vehicle's useful
life. Once the loan is repaid in full, title to the vehicle shall be
transferred to the vanpool operator.
2573. The department shall charge a rate of interest for loans made
under this chapter reasonably calculated to ultimately keep the fund
at a constant level and in addition recover the administrative costs
incurred by the department under this chapter.
2574. The vanpool grant program shall be administered by the
department. From funds appropriated to the department for the
purpose, the department shall make grants to persons approved as
vanpool operators for the purchase or lease of vanpool vehicles.
2575. (a) Any person may submit an application to the department
for a grant of not more than 70 percent of the cost to purchase or
lease a new vanpool vehicle or vehicles.
(b) A vanpool operator who receives a purchase grant shall operate
the vanpool vehicle as a vanpool for the useful life of the vehicle.
The vanpool operator's failure to do so shall result in a forfeiture
of the grant, the return of the vanpool vehicle to the department,
and forfeiture of the operator's contribution toward the purchase
price of the vehicle.
(c) Title to the vanpool vehicle shall be retained by the
department until the expiration of the vehicle's useful life. Once
the vanpool vehicle's useful life has been reached, title to the
vehicle shall be transferred to the vanpool operator.
2576. A vanpool operator who receives a lease grant shall operate
the vanpool vehicle as a vanpool for the duration of the lease. The
vanpool operator's failure to do so shall result in a forfeiture of
all rights under the lease, the return of the vanpool vehicle to the
lessor, and forfeiture of the operator's contribution toward the
lease of the vehicle.
2577. All money received by the department under this chapter shall
be deposited in the Ridesharing Vanpool Revolving Loan and Grant
Fund.
2578. (a) The department shall adopt guidelines for the making of
loans and for the purchase and lease of vanpool vehicles. The
guidelines shall, in the case of loans, include, but not be limited
to, a procedure to evaluate the vanpool operator's ability to repay
the loan in a timely fashion, as well as the need for the vanpool
vehicle and other criteria for selecting applicants. The department
shall assign priority in the following descending order:
(1) Vanpools operating on routes with no alternative public
transportation.
(2) Vanpool operators applying for loans or grants for new vanpool
vehicles.
(3) Applicants having previous successful experience as vanpool
operators.
(4) Vanpool operators applying for loans or grants for replacement
vanpool vehicles. For purposes of this paragraph, the vanpool
vehicle to be replaced shall be at least four years old or have
operated 250,000 or more miles, or both.
(b) Concurrently with the award of each loan or grant, the
department shall require each applicant to comply with subdivision
(h) of Section 12804 of the Vehicle Code and Section 34509 of the
Vehicle Code, and the insurance coverage requirements of the
department. The guidelines shall also set forth the limitations on
the nonwork-trip use of the vanpool vehicle, the maximum percentage
of the cost of a vanpool vehicle which may be covered by a loan or
grant under this chapter, and other requirements determined to be
necessary by the department.
(c) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of
Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the
adoption of the guidelines.
2579. A vanpool operator is not eligible for any California income
tax deduction or credit applicable to vanpooling with respect to the
amount of any grant under this chapter.
2580. (a) The Department of Transportation may make loans to other
state agencies for the purpose of purchasing vanpool vehicles, as
defined by subdivision (b) of Section 2570, for state employee
vanpooling. The purchased vehicles, to the extent practicable, shall
be either "low-emission vehicles," as defined by Section 39037.05 of
the Health and Safety Code, or "alternative fuel vehicles," which are
either of the following:
(1) An original equipment manufactured vehicle capable of
operating on a nonpetroleum-based alternative fuel such as
electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol, or
natural gas and that has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the
State Air Resources Board the ability to meet applicable California
emission standards.
(2) A vehicle that has been converted to use a nonpetroleum-based
alternative fuel such as electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, liquefied
petroleum gas, methanol, or natural gas through the installation of
an alternative fuel retrofit system that has been certified by the
State Air Resources Board.
(b) The department shall establish criteria and adopt guidelines
for making the loans and for the purchase of vanpool vehicles,
including, but not limited to, requirements on the type of vehicles
authorized for purchase, areas within the state eligible for the
vehicles' operation, types of routes for the vehicles' operation, and
agencies which are authorized to participate in the program. State
agencies may submit loan applications to the department for approval.
State agencies receiving loans and purchasing vehicles pursuant to
this section shall be responsible for all of the following:
(1) Operational responsibilities for the vehicles, including, but
not limited to, vehicle maintenance and repair.
(2) Administration of departmental rideshare programs, including,
but not limited to, ridership development and retention.
(3) Compliance with applicable state and federal laws and
regulations, including driver and vehicle certification, licenses,
and vehicle registration.
(4) Retaining title to vanpool vehicles purchased.
(5) Repayment of the loan for the purchase of the vanpool vehicle.
(c) An agency which receives a loan for the purchase of a vanpool
vehicle pursuant to this section shall charge each employee
participating in the vanpooling program a monthly fee in an amount
determined by the agency. Proceeds of the fees shall be sufficient to
fully reimburse the agency for repayment of the loan and for the
operational cost of the vanpool vehicle. The operational cost
includes, at a minimum, fuel, maintenance, and repairs. The agency
shall maintain records to demonstrate that the vanpooling program
which it operates is self-supporting.
(d) Funds for loans for purposes of this section shall be provided
in the annual Budget Act.
2570. For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the
meanings given in this section:
(a) "Vanpool operator" means any person who files an application
and who is approved for a loan or grant under this chapter.
(b) "Vanpool vehicle" means, notwithstanding any other provision
of law, a motor vehicle designed for carrying more than six but less
than 16 persons, including the driver, which is maintained and used
primarily for the work-related transportation of adults for the
purpose of ridesharing.
(c) "Useful life," with respect to a vanpool vehicle, means either
100,000 miles and four years old or 200,000 miles without regard to
age.
2571. The Ridesharing Vanpool Revolving Loan and Grant Fund is
hereby created in the State Treasury. The fund shall be administered
by the department for purposes of making loans and grants to vanpool
operators. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, all
money in the fund is continuously appropriated, without regard to
fiscal years, to the department to carry out the purposes of this
chapter.
2572. Any person may submit an application to the department for a
loan from the fund to purchase a vanpool vehicle for operation by the
person as a vanpool operator. Title to the vehicle shall be retained
by the department until the loan is repaid in full. The loan shall
be repaid over a period of time not to exceed the vehicle's useful
life. Once the loan is repaid in full, title to the vehicle shall be
transferred to the vanpool operator.
2573. The department shall charge a rate of interest for loans made
under this chapter reasonably calculated to ultimately keep the fund
at a constant level and in addition recover the administrative costs
incurred by the department under this chapter.
2574. The vanpool grant program shall be administered by the
department. From funds appropriated to the department for the
purpose, the department shall make grants to persons approved as
vanpool operators for the purchase or lease of vanpool vehicles.
2575. (a) Any person may submit an application to the department
for a grant of not more than 70 percent of the cost to purchase or
lease a new vanpool vehicle or vehicles.
(b) A vanpool operator who receives a purchase grant shall operate
the vanpool vehicle as a vanpool for the useful life of the vehicle.
The vanpool operator's failure to do so shall result in a forfeiture
of the grant, the return of the vanpool vehicle to the department,
and forfeiture of the operator's contribution toward the purchase
price of the vehicle.
(c) Title to the vanpool vehicle shall be retained by the
department until the expiration of the vehicle's useful life. Once
the vanpool vehicle's useful life has been reached, title to the
vehicle shall be transferred to the vanpool operator.
2576. A vanpool operator who receives a lease grant shall operate
the vanpool vehicle as a vanpool for the duration of the lease. The
vanpool operator's failure to do so shall result in a forfeiture of
all rights under the lease, the return of the vanpool vehicle to the
lessor, and forfeiture of the operator's contribution toward the
lease of the vehicle.
2577. All money received by the department under this chapter shall
be deposited in the Ridesharing Vanpool Revolving Loan and Grant
Fund.
2578. (a) The department shall adopt guidelines for the making of
loans and for the purchase and lease of vanpool vehicles. The
guidelines shall, in the case of loans, include, but not be limited
to, a procedure to evaluate the vanpool operator's ability to repay
the loan in a timely fashion, as well as the need for the vanpool
vehicle and other criteria for selecting applicants. The department
shall assign priority in the following descending order:
(1) Vanpools operating on routes with no alternative public
transportation.
(2) Vanpool operators applying for loans or grants for new vanpool
vehicles.
(3) Applicants having previous successful experience as vanpool
operators.
(4) Vanpool operators applying for loans or grants for replacement
vanpool vehicles. For purposes of this paragraph, the vanpool
vehicle to be replaced shall be at least four years old or have
operated 250,000 or more miles, or both.
(b) Concurrently with the award of each loan or grant, the
department shall require each applicant to comply with subdivision
(h) of Section 12804 of the Vehicle Code and Section 34509 of the
Vehicle Code, and the insurance coverage requirements of the
department. The guidelines shall also set forth the limitations on
the nonwork-trip use of the vanpool vehicle, the maximum percentage
of the cost of a vanpool vehicle which may be covered by a loan or
grant under this chapter, and other requirements determined to be
necessary by the department.
(c) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of
Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the
adoption of the guidelines.
2579. A vanpool operator is not eligible for any California income
tax deduction or credit applicable to vanpooling with respect to the
amount of any grant under this chapter.
2580. (a) The Department of Transportation may make loans to other
state agencies for the purpose of purchasing vanpool vehicles, as
defined by subdivision (b) of Section 2570, for state employee
vanpooling. The purchased vehicles, to the extent practicable, shall
be either "low-emission vehicles," as defined by Section 39037.05 of
the Health and Safety Code, or "alternative fuel vehicles," which are
either of the following:
(1) An original equipment manufactured vehicle capable of
operating on a nonpetroleum-based alternative fuel such as
electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol, or
natural gas and that has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the
State Air Resources Board the ability to meet applicable California
emission standards.
(2) A vehicle that has been converted to use a nonpetroleum-based
alternative fuel such as electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, liquefied
petroleum gas, methanol, or natural gas through the installation of
an alternative fuel retrofit system that has been certified by the
State Air Resources Board.
(b) The department shall establish criteria and adopt guidelines
for making the loans and for the purchase of vanpool vehicles,
including, but not limited to, requirements on the type of vehicles
authorized for purchase, areas within the state eligible for the
vehicles' operation, types of routes for the vehicles' operation, and
agencies which are authorized to participate in the program. State
agencies may submit loan applications to the department for approval.
State agencies receiving loans and purchasing vehicles pursuant to
this section shall be responsible for all of the following:
(1) Operational responsibilities for the vehicles, including, but
not limited to, vehicle maintenance and repair.
(2) Administration of departmental rideshare programs, including,
but not limited to, ridership development and retention.
(3) Compliance with applicable state and federal laws and
regulations, including driver and vehicle certification, licenses,
and vehicle registration.
(4) Retaining title to vanpool vehicles purchased.
(5) Repayment of the loan for the purchase of the vanpool vehicle.
(c) An agency which receives a loan for the purchase of a vanpool
vehicle pursuant to this section shall charge each employee
participating in the vanpooling program a monthly fee in an amount
determined by the agency. Proceeds of the fees shall be sufficient to
fully reimburse the agency for repayment of the loan and for the
operational cost of the vanpool vehicle. The operational cost
includes, at a minimum, fuel, maintenance, and repairs. The agency
shall maintain records to demonstrate that the vanpooling program
which it operates is self-supporting.
(d) Funds for loans for purposes of this section shall be provided
in the annual Budget Act.
