Bill Text: CA AB1613 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Department of Motor vehicles: motor vehicle inspection
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-04-24 - From committee without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a). [AB1613 Detail]
Download: California-2011-AB1613-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1613 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 28, 2012 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Donnelly ( Coauthors: Assembly Members Jeffries and Silva ) ( Coauthor: Senator Gaines ) FEBRUARY 8, 2012 An act to amend Section 44015 of the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Section 4000.1 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1613, as amended, Donnelly.MotorDepartment of Motor vehicles: motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program. Existing law establishes a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (smog-check) program, administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs and the State Air Resources Board, which provides for the inspection of all motor vehicles, except those specifically exempted from the program, upon registration, biennially upon renewal of registration, upon transfer of ownership, and in certain other circumstances. Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to require, upon initial registration, and, except as specified, upon transfer of ownership and registration, of a motor vehicle, and upon registration of a motor vehicle previously registered outside this state that is subject to those provisions, a valid certificate of compliance or a certificate of noncompliance, as appropriate, with respect to smog certification. Existing law specifies that a certificate of compliance or noncompliance is valid for 90 days, except as provided. This bill would delete the requirement that the DMV require a certificate of compliance or a certificate of noncompliance with respect to smog certification upon any transfer of ownership and registration of a motor vehicle. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 44015 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 44015. (a) A licensed smog check station shall not issue a certificate of compliance, except as authorized by this chapter, to a vehicle that meets the following criteria: (1) A vehicle that has been tampered with. (2) A vehicle identified pursuant to subparagraph (K) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 44036. A vehicle identified pursuant to subparagraph (K) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 44036 shall be directed to the department to determine whether an inadvertent error can explain the irregularity, or whether the vehicle otherwise meets smog check requirements, allowing the certificate for compliance to be issued, or the vehicle shall be reinspected by a referee or another smog check station. (3) A vehicle that,prior tobefore repairs, has been initially identified by the smog check station as a gross polluter. Certification of a gross polluting vehicle shall be conducted by a designated test-only facility, or a test-and-repair station that is both licensed and certified pursuant to Sections 44014 and 44014.2. (4) A vehicle described in subdivision (c). (b) If a vehicle meets the requirements of Section 44012, a smog check station licensed to issue certificates shall issue a certificate of compliance or a certificate of noncompliance. (c) (1) A repair cost waiver shall be issued, upon request of the vehicle owner, by an entity authorized to perform referee functions for a vehicle that has been properly tested but does not meet the applicable emission standards when it is determined that no adjustment or repair can be made that will reduce emissions from the inspected motor vehicle without exceeding the applicable repair cost limit established under Section 44017 and that every defect specified by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 43204, and by paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 43205, has been corrected. A repair cost waiver issued pursuant to this paragraph shall be accepted in lieu of a certificate of compliance for the purposes of compliance with Section 4000.3 of the Vehicle Code. A repair cost waiver shall not exceed two years' duration. A repair cost waiver shall not be issued until the vehicle owner has expended an amount equal to the applicable repair cost limit specified in Section 44017. (2) An economic hardship extension shall be issued, upon request of a qualified low-income motor vehicle owner, by an entity authorized to perform referee functions, for a motor vehicle that has been properly tested but does not meet the applicable emission standards when it is determined that no adjustment or repair can be made that will reduce emissions from the inspected motor vehicle without exceeding the applicable repair cost limit, as established pursuant to Section 44017.1, that every defect specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 43204, and in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 43205, has been corrected, that the low-income vehicle owner would suffer an economic hardship if the extension is not issued, and that all appropriate emissions-related repairs up to the amount of the applicable repair cost limit in Section 44017.1 have been performed. (d) A repair cost waiver or economic hardship extension shall not be issued under any of the following circumstances: (1) If a motor vehicle was issued a repair cost waiver or economic hardship extension in the previous biennial inspection of that vehicle. A repair cost waiver or economic hardship extension may be issued to a motor vehicle owner only once for a particular motor vehicle belonging to that owner. However, a repair cost waiver or economic hardship extension may be issued for a motor vehicle that participated in a previous waiver or extension program prior to January 1, 1998, as determined by the department. For waivers or extensions issued in the program operative on or after January 1, 1998, a waiver or extension may be issued for a motor vehicle only once per owner. (2) Upon initial registration of all of the following: (A) A direct import motor vehicle. (B) A motor vehicle previously registered outside this state. (C) A dismantled motor vehicle pursuant to Section 11519 of the Vehicle Code. (D) A motor vehicle that has had an engine change. (E) An alternate fuel vehicle. (F) A specially constructed vehicle. (e) Except as provided in subdivision (f), a certificate of compliance or noncompliance shall be valid for 90 days. (f) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 4000.1, 24007, 24007.5, and 24007.6 of the Vehicle Code, a licensed motor vehicle dealer shall be responsible for having a smog check inspection performed on, and a certificate of compliance or noncompliance issued for, every motor vehicle offered for retail sale. A certificate issued to a licensed motor vehicle dealer shall be valid for a two-year period, or until the vehicle is sold and registered to a retail buyer, whichever occurs first. (g) A test may be made at any time within 90 daysprior tobefore the date otherwise required. SEC. 2. Section 4000.1 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: 4000.1. (a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b) or (c)of this section, or subdivision (b) of Section 43654 of the Health and Safety Code, the department shall require , upon initial registration of any motor vehicle subject to Part 5 (commencing with Section 43000) of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code, a valid certificate of compliance or a certificate of noncompliance, as appropriate, issued in accordance with Section 44015 of the Health and Safety Code. (b) With respect to new motor vehicles certified pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 43100) of Part 5 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code, the department shall accept a statement completed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 24007 in lieu of the certificate of compliance. (c) For purposes of determining the validity of a certificate of compliance or noncompliance submitted in compliance with the requirements of this section, the definitions of new and used motor vehicle contained in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 39010) of Part 1 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code shall control. (d) The State Air Resources Board, under Part 5 (commencing with Section 43000) of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code, may exempt designated classifications of motor vehicles from subdivision (a) as it deems necessary, and shall notify the department of that action. (e) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a motor vehicle if an additional individual is added as a registered owner of the motor vehicle. (f) For purposes of subdivision (a), a collector motor vehicle, as defined in Section 259, is exempt from those portions of the test required by subdivision (f) of Section 44012 of the Health and Safety Code , if the collector motor vehicle meets all of the following criteria: (1) Submission of proof that the motor vehicle is insured as a collector motor vehicle, as shall be required by regulation of the bureau. (2) The motor vehicle is at least 35 model-years old. (3) The motor vehicle complies with the exhaust emissions standards for that motor vehicle's class and model year as prescribed by the department and the motor vehicle passes a functional inspection of the fuel cap and a visual inspection for liquid fuel leaks.