§7-A. Assignment of vehicles

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all assignments of state-owned vehicles to individual employees will terminate effective August 1, 1983. The Governor may establish such criteria as the Governor deems appropriate relative to the assignment of all state-owned vehicles. It is the intent of the Legislature that no state-owned vehicle may be assigned to or used exclusively by any individual employee other than those instances where the Governor deems such assignment and use to be clearly necessary in order to carry out programs that have been approved by the Legislature.   [PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. P, §6 (RPR).]

1.  Garaging vehicles off state grounds.  Under no circumstances may any state employee garage a state vehicle at the individual's residence, except as provided:

A. A vehicle may be temporarily garaged off state grounds when it is being used to transport state employees while on overnight travel;   [PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. P, §6 (NEW).]

B. State vehicles may be temporarily garaged off state grounds after the late conclusion of a day's work;   [PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. P, §6 (NEW).]

C. State vehicles may be temporarily garaged off state grounds in order to allow an employee to take a vehicle home when the next day's assignment will require the use of the vehicle for travel beyond and in the same general direction as the employee's residence;   [PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. P, §6 (NEW).]

D. A vehicle may be temporarily garaged off state grounds when certified by the Bureau of General Services that there is no space available on state grounds or certified by the Department of Public Safety that the space available does not provide adequate protection for the vehicle; or   [PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. B, §5 (AMD).]

[PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. B, §5 (AMD).]

2.  Individual assignment of vehicles.  Assignment of a state vehicle to an individual employee will be made only when that assignment is clearly necessary and meets one or more of the following criteria:

A. Sworn law enforcement personnel with powers of arrest regularly assigned to field duty;   [PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. P, §6 (NEW).]

B. Field personnel directly concerned with the maintenance and operation of highway facilities who are frequently called for emergency duty at other than regular working hours;   [PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. P, §6 (NEW).]

C. Employees identified by the Governor, the Commissioner of Public Safety, the Commissioner of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management or the Commissioner of Transportation to be available for call beyond the normal workday on a regular basis to protect the public safety;   [PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. P, §6 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 455, §32 (AMD).]

D. Employees who are officially headquartered at their residences and carry unusual materials or equipment which make up an integral part of the employee's ability to perform the employee's job function on a regular basis and would be dangerous, unsanitary or too large to carry in that employee's personal vehicle; or   [PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. P, §6 (NEW).]

E. Employees who are officially headquartered at their residences provided the department head determines annually that the assignment is more effective than reimbursement for mileage.   [PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. P, §6 (NEW).]

[PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. P, §6 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 455, §32 (AMD).]

3.  Annual report.  Every department or agency in State Government that has state-owned vehicles must file a report with the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs no later than January 15th of every year that provides detailed information on state-owned vehicles. This report must include, but is not limited to, the following information: the total number of state vehicles within that department or agency; the individual employees to whom a state vehicle is assigned; and the purpose or function to which all other vehicles are assigned.

[PL 1991, c. 9, Pt. Y, §1 (NEW).]

The Governor may also establish criteria for the transfer of vehicles from department to department in order to meet priority operational needs.   [PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. P, §6 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1983, c. 477, Pt. E, Subpt. 20 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 501, §P6 (RPR). PL 1991, c. 9, §Y1 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 455, §32 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 691, Pt. B, §5 (AMD).