Bill Text: CA AB615 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Air Quality Improvement Program: Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-10-10 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 631, Statutes of 2017. [AB615 Detail]
Download: California-2017-AB615-Chaptered.html
| Assembly Bill No. 615 |
| CHAPTER 631 |
An act to amend Section 44274.3 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to vehicular air pollution, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.
[
Approved by
Governor
October 10, 2017.
Filed with
Secretary of State
October 10, 2017.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 615, 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, until July 1, 2017, requires the state board, for the purposes of the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, to, among other things, offer rebates only to applicants who purchase an eligible vehicle and have a specified maximum gross annual income; increase rebate payments by $500 for low-income applicants, as defined; and prioritize rebate
payments for low-income applicants.
This bill instead would extend the applicability of these provisions to January 1, 2019.
This bill would require the state board to work with, and contract with, either the University of California or the California State University to prepare and submit to the Legislature a report on the impact of the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project on the state’s zero-emission vehicle market no later than December 31, 2018. The bill would require the Department of Finance to submit to the Legislature a report evaluating the fiscal impacts of the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project no later than July 1, 2018.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Digest Key
Vote: 2/3 Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 44274.3 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:44274.3.
(a) For purposes of this section, “low income” means a resident of the state whose household income is less than or equal to 300 percent of the federal poverty level.(b) Beginning November 1, 2016, 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 fifty
thousand dollars ($150,000) for single filers.
(B) Two hundred four thousand dollars ($204,000) for head-of-household filers.
(C) Three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for joint filers.
(2) Increase the rebate payment by five hundred dollars ($500) for a low-income applicant for all eligible vehicle types.
(3) Only offer rebates for plug-in hybrids that have an electric range of at least 20 miles.
(4) Provide outreach to low-income households to increase consumer awareness of the rebate project.
(5) Prioritize rebate payments to low-income applicants.
(c) The income restrictions set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) shall not apply to fuel cell vehicles.
(d) (1) No later than December 31, 2018, the state board shall work with, and contract with, either the University of California or the California State University to prepare and submit to the Legislature a report on the impact of the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project on the state’s zero-emission vehicle market. The report shall include, but is not limited to, the impact of income caps, increased rebates for low-income consumers, and increased outreach on the electric vehicle market, as well as a quantification of emissions reductions attributable to the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.
(2) No later than July 1, 2018, the Department of Finance shall submit to the Legislature a report evaluating the fiscal impact the rebates distributed
pursuant to this section have had on both of the following:
(A) The revenue sources from which moneys have been appropriated to implement this section.
(B) The overall annual state budget.
(3) A report submitted pursuant to this subdivision shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019, and as of that date is repealed.
SEC. 2.
This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:In order to ensure that important safeguards to the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project remain operative to protect air quality, it is necessary for this act to take immediate effect.
