Reliable Home Heating Act

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on May 20, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Reliable Home Heating Act - Directs the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to recognize any 30-day emergency period declared by a state governor due to a shortage of residential heating fuel (and up to two additional 30-day periods) as one during which FMCSA federal motor carrier safety regulations shall not apply to any motor carrier or driver operating a commercial motor vehicle providing residential heating fuel in a geographic area designated as under a state of emergency.

Defines the term "residential heating fuel" to include heating oil, natural gas, and propane.

Directs the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration, using data compiled from the Administration's Weekly Petroleum Status Reports, to notify the governor of each state in a Petroleum Administration for Defense District if that district's inventory of residential heating fuel has been below the most recent five-year average for more than three consecutive weeks.

Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to study the impacts on safety from the extension of exemptions issued by the state governors.

[113th Congress Public Law 125]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 128 STAT. 1388]]

Public Law 113-125
113th Congress

                                 An Act


 
To address current emergency shortages of propane and other home heating 
 fuels and to provide greater flexibility and information for Governors 
to address such emergencies in the future. <<NOTE: June 30, 2014 -  [S. 
                                2086]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Reliable Home 
Heating Act. 49 USC 31136 note.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Reliable Home Heating Act''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO EXTEND EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS FOR PURPOSES OF 
                    TEMPORARILY EXEMPTING MOTOR CARRIERS PROVIDING 
                    EMERGENCY RELIEF FROM CERTAIN SAFETY 
                    REGULATIONS.

    (a) Defined Term.--In this Act, the term ``residential heating 
fuel'' includes--
            (1) heating oil;
            (2) natural gas; and
            (3) propane.

    (b) <<NOTE: Time periods. Determination.>>  Authorization.--If the 
Governor of a State declares a state of emergency caused by a shortage 
of residential heating fuel and, at the conclusion of the initial 30-day 
emergency period (or a second 30-day emergency period authorized under 
this subsection), the Governor determines that the emergency shortage 
has not ended, any extension of such state of emergency by the Governor, 
up to 2 additional 30-day periods, shall be recognized by the Federal 
Motor Carrier Safety Administration as a period during which parts 390 
through 399 of chapter III of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, 
shall not apply to any motor carrier or driver operating a commercial 
motor vehicle to provide residential heating fuel in the geographic area 
so designated as under a state of emergency.

    (c) Rulemaking.--The Secretary of Transportation shall amend section 
390.23(a)(1)(ii) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to conform to 
the provision set forth in subsection (b).
    (d) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
modify the authority granted to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration's Field Administrator under section 390.23(a) of title 
49, Code of Federal Regulations, to offer temporary exemptions from 
parts 390 through 399 of such title.
SEC. 3. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION NOTIFICATION 
                    REQUIREMENT.

    The Administrator of the Energy Information Administration, using 
data compiled from the Administration's Weekly Petroleum

[[Page 128 STAT. 1389]]

Status Reports, shall notify the Governor of each State in a Petroleum 
Administration for Defense District if the inventory of residential 
heating fuel within such district has been below the most recent 5-year 
average for more than 3 consecutive weeks.
SEC. 4. <<NOTE: Deadline. Study. Reports.>>  REVIEW.

    Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study of, and transmit 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives, a report on the impacts of safety from the extensions 
issued by Governors according to this Act. In conducting the study, the 
Secretary shall review, at a minimum--
            (1) the safety implications of extending exemptions; and
            (2) a review of the exemption process to ensure clarity and 
        efficiency during emergencies.

    Approved June 30, 2014.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2086:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

SENATE REPORTS: No. 113-162 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 160 (2014):
            May 21, considered and passed Senate.
            June 23, considered and passed House.

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