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September Update: California bills to watch as they make way through legislative process

Bill that would require repair shops that install or replace a catalytic converter to ensure it is engraved or otherwise permanently marked with VIN dies

Sacramento, Calif.—The California Autobody Association (CAA) has provided its Legislative & Regulatory Update for September, noting that more than 2,300 bills were introduced this year. The bills are making their way through the legislative committee process.

“We will continue to monitor closely, provide analysis and updates as the session moves forward,” CAA stated. Below is a short CAA summary of some of the key bills/areas and regulations it is tracking. To learn more as bills advance and how to join CAA, visit www.calautobody.com.


Legislative Bills

Catalytic Converter Theft Bills — Concerns

AB 1740 — Requires core recyclers who accept converters from commercial enterprise, which includes auto repair dealers, to obtain the following from seller: name, business address and phone, business license or tax ID, date of sale, number of converters sold, amount of money and written agreement to be kept for two years. Status: Governor’s Desk.

AB 2407 — Requires core recycler who accepts converters from seller to have a written agreement and obtain thumb prints from seller disposing of catalytic converters. The bill was amended to exempt automotive repair dealers from thumb print requirements. Status: Died.

AB 2682 — Any auto repair shop that installs or replaces a catalytic converter must ensure that it is engraved or otherwise permanently marked with VIN. The repair shop may charge a reasonable fee for permanently marking the converter. A smog station must visually inspect and notify customer whether or not converter engraved with VIN. The smog station needs only perform a visually inspection without any responsibility of removing any part, if converter not visible. The bill also makes it a crime to remove or alter a VIN that has been added to the catalytic converter. Status: Died.

SB 986 — Requires core recyclers who accept converters to maintain specified written records from seller with sufficient particularity, including markings to match any converter in recyclers inventory to written agreement and prohibits a dealer from selling a vehicle unless converter has been engraved, etched or permanently marked with VIN. Status: Died.

SB 1087 — Requires core recyclers who accept converters from seller to obtain and maintain written records, including name, date number of converters and amount of money and specifically prohibits any person from purchasing used converter other than specified business which includes an auto repair dealer. Status: Governor’ Desk. 

Employment Bills – Concerns

AB 1949 — Requires employers with five or more employees to provide employees up to 5 unpaid days of employee bereavement leave upon the death of a family member. Status: Governor’s Desk. 

AB 1993 — Mandates employers to require each employee to show proof that employee has been vaccinated against covid-19. Status: Died 

AB 2243 — Requires Cal-OSHA to submit a proposal to the Heath Standards Board to revise the heat illness standard. Status: Senate Governor’s Desk. 

AB 2932 — Requires all employers to pay overtime to employees working more than 32 hours a week. Status: Died. 

SB 1044 — Prohibits an employee, in the event of emergency, from threatening adverse action against an employee for refusing to report to work because employee has reasonable belief that workplace is unsafe. Status: Governor’s Desk. 

SB 1162 — Requires employers of 100 or more workers to submit annual pay data reports by company name. Encourages litigation against employers based on the unreliable data collected by the state. Undermines employers’ ability to hire, imposes burdensome administrative and record keeping, and subjects’ employers to potential private right of action and penalties under PAGA. Status: Governor’s Desk. 

Employer Tax Credits – Support

SB 1349 — Support — Allows for $1,000 state tax credit for each employee hired by employer. Status: Died. 

AB 1864 — Allows for a tax credit against taxes to qualified small business employers in an unspecified amount for each newly hired employee, as specified. Status: Died.  

COVID-19 Relief for Employers – Support

AB 152 — Support — This bill establishes Covid-19 Relief grant program to assist qualified business that are incurring costs for Covid-19 Supplemental paid sick leave. Status: Governor’s Desk.

Career Tech Bills – Support

AB 2058 — Support — This bill would increase career tech funding from $300 million to $450 million annually. Status: Died. 

SB 1351 — Establishes the California Youth Apprenticeship Program for purpose of awarding grant funds. Status: Died. 

Tires — Watch

SB 1181 — This bill requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to strengthen the California tire tracking system to quantify the number of used tires flowing from and through California into Mexico. Status: Governor’s Desk. 

Engine Oil and Transmission Fluid — Concerns

AB 2968 — The bill would revise engine oil specifications and prohibit transmission fluid from being sold without clearly disclosing each duty type classification. Status: Died. 

Battery Fee — Watch

AB 1 — This bill makes technical corrections to the current notice requirement to reflect the increase of the battery fees. Status: Died. 

Hydrofluorocarbon Gases — Concerns

SB 1206 — This bill prohibits a person from selling or distributing hydrofluorocarbons gases (which are used in refrigerants, air conditioning, etc.) that exceed global warming limits. Status: Governor’s Desk.  

Zero Emissions Aftermarket Conversions — Watch

AB 2350 — Requires CARB to establish the Zero Emissions Aftermarket Conversion Project to provide applicant with a rebate for the aftermarket conversion of a motor vehicle into zero emissions vehicle. Status: Died. 

Vehicle Exhaust — Concerns

AB 2496 — As introduced, this bill would have required smog stations to include a sound level test that vehicles would fail smog if the exhaust system emits a sound level of more than 95dBA. The bill has been amended to delete the smog check station requirements and instead require a court, beginning January 1, 2027, to notify DMV to place a registration hold on a vehicle found to have a noncompliant modified muffler until the court has been presented with a certificate of compliance from a referee authorized to test the vehicle Status: Governor’s Desk. 

Vehicle Insurance — Support

SB 1107 — Support. This bill, among other things, would increase the amount of liability insurance coverage an owner of vehicle is required to maintain from the current $15,000 for single injury or death, $30,000 for injury or death of more than one person and $5,000 for property ($15k,$30k,$5k) to ($30k, $60k, $15k). Status: Governor’s Desk. 

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