Bill Text: CA AB126 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Air Quality Improvement Program: Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-07-09 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Held without recommendation. [AB126 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB126-Amended.html

Amended  IN  Senate  June 24, 2019
Amended  IN  Assembly  April 25, 2019
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 21, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 126


Introduced by Assembly Member Cooper

December 03, 2018


An act to amend Section 44274.6 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to vehicular air pollution.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 126, as amended, Cooper. Air Quality Improvement Program: Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.
Existing law establishes the Air Quality Improvement Program that is administered by the State Air Resources Board for the purposes of funding projects related to, among other things, the reduction of criteria air pollutants and improvement of air quality. Pursuant to its existing statutory authority, the state board has established the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, as a part of the Air Quality Improvement Program, to promote the production and use of zero-emission vehicles by providing rebates for the purchase of new zero-emission vehicles. Existing law requires the state board, for the purposes of the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, to provide outreach to low-income households and low-income communities to increase consumer awareness of the rebate project and, until January 1, 2022, to prioritize rebate payments to low-income applicants.
This bill would require the state board, for the purposes of the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project and until January 1, 2022, to offer rebates only to applicants who purchase an eligible vehicle and have a specified maximum gross annual income, to increase rebate payments by $500 for low-income applicants, applicants and to only offer rebates for plug-in hybrids that have an electric range of at least 40 miles.
This bill also would require the state board, for the purposes of the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project and until January 1, 2022, through a public process, to consider changing the eligibility requirements to increase the number of rebates provided to people who qualify as being low income, live in low-income communities, live in disadvantaged communities, and live in an air basin that is designated as being in nonattainment for any criteria air pollutant. The bill would require the state board, when considering changing those eligibility requirements, to consider specified requirements, impacts, and purposes.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 44274.6 of the Health and Safety Code, as added by Section 1 of Chapter 366 of the Statutes of 2018, is amended to read:

44274.6.
 (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Low income” means a resident of the state whose household income is less than or equal to 300 percent of the federal poverty level.
(2) “Low-income communities” has the same meaning as defined in Section 39713.
(b) Under the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project established as a part of the Air Quality Improvement Program, the state board shall do both of the following:
(1) Provide outreach to low-income households and low-income communities to increase consumer awareness of the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.
(2) Prioritize rebate payments to low-income applicants.
(c) Beginning January 1, 2020, under the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project established as a part of the Air Quality Improvement Program, the state board shall do the following:

(1)Only offer rebates to applicants who purchase an eligible vehicle and have a gross annual income, as reported on the Internal Revenue Service Form 1040, the Internal Revenue Service Form 1040A, or the Internal Revenue Service Form 1040EZ, that does not exceed the following:

(A)One hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000) for single filers.

(B)One hundred seventy-five thousand dollars ($175,000) for head-of-household filers.

(C)Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for joint filers.

(2)

(1) Increase the rebate payment by five hundred dollars ($500) for a low-income applicant for all eligible vehicle types.

(3)

(2) Only offer rebates for plug-in hybrids that have an electric range of at least 40 miles.
(3) (A) Consider, through a public process, changing the eligibility requirements to increase the number of rebates provided to all of the following:
(i) People who qualify as being low income.
(ii) People who live in low-income communities.
(iii) People who live in disadvantaged communities, as identified pursuant to Section 39711.
(iv) People who live in an air basin that is designated as being in nonattainment for any criteria air pollutant.
(B) Consider, but need not be limited to considering, when performing the requirements of subparagraph (A) all of the following:
(i) Income eligibility requirements, geographic eligibility requirements, vehicle type eligibility requirements, and vehicle cost eligibility requirements.
(ii) Impacts each eligibility requirement change could have on the cost-effectiveness of increasing the number of zero-emission vehicles operating in the state.
(iii) Whether each eligibility requirement change would further the purposes of both the existing goals of the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project and the goals of subparagraph (A).
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2022, and as of that date is repealed.

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