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2013 SESSION

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SB 855 Transportation; funding and administration.

Introduced by: J. Chapman Petersen | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Transportation; funding and administration. Increases the base fuel tax rate in Virginia by 10 cents to $0.275 per gallon of gasoline, gasohol, and diesel fuel, and then increases or decreases the rate each year using a fuel efficiency index. The bill would define the fuel efficiency index as the quotient that is obtained when using as the numerator the total annual vehicle miles traveled in the Commonwealth for the relevant year and using as the denominator the total gallons of motor fuel consumed for highway use in the Commonwealth for the relevant year. The numerator and denominator would be the corresponding amounts as published by the Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The bill would establish 2007 as the base year for the fuel efficiency index. Thus, the percentage change in the fuel efficiency index between the current year and 2007, the base year, would determine the annual percentage increase or decrease in the rates of Virginia's fuels taxes. Each December the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles would compute the adjusted rates of fuels taxes.

The bill also establishes a $10 fee for the sale of each new electric motor vehicle battery, with the proceeds being deposited into the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund.

Finally, the bill increases the membership of the Commonwealth Transportation Board from 17 members to 23 members, with four members representing Northern Virginia, three members representing Hampton Roads, and two members representing Richmond. Currently, each of those areas has one representative on the Board.


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