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California bills to watch as they make way through legislative process

California Autobody Association is continuing to closely monitor these bills that affect the state’s aftermarket, providing analysis and updates as the session moves forward

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

“We will continue to monitor closely, provide analysis and updates as the session moves forward,” CAA stated in an email. 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.

Catalytic Converter Theft Bills

AB 1622 – Requires smog shops to provide signs informing customers about strategies for deterring converter theft, including etching of identifying information on the converter. Status: Assembly Transportation – Not Heard. Not moving. 

AB 1653 – Creates a Task Force to assist local law enforcement to identify geographic areas experiencing high level of property crimes Status: Senate Public Safety.   

AB 1659 – Revises the definition of auto dismantler to include a person who keeps or maintains two or more used converters not attached to a motor vehicle; Status: Assembly Transportation – Not Heard. Not moving. 

AB 1740 – Requires core recyclers who accept converters to maintain record of the year, make and model of the vehicle from which converter was removed. Status: Senate.   

AB 1984 – Specifies that a peace officer need not have actual knowledge that converter is stolen to establish probable cause for arrest. Status: Assembly Transportation – Not Heard.  Not moving. 

AB 2398 – Makes possession of detached converter a crime. Status: Assembly Public Safety – Failed passage.   

AB 2407 – Requires core recyclers who accept converters to obtain thumb prints from seller disposing of catalytic converters. Status: Assembly Appropriations.   

AB 2682 – Any ARD (automotive repair dealer) that installs or replaces a catalytic converter shall ensure that it is engraved or otherwise marked with VIN and smog station shall notify customer whether or not converter engraved with VIN. Status: Assembly Appropriations.   

SB 919 – Prohibits a dealer from selling a vehicle unless converter has been engraved, etched or permanently marked with VIN. Status: Senate Public Safety. Failed passage. 

SB 986 – Requires core recyclers who accept converters to maintain specified written records and prohibits a dealer from selling a vehicle unless converter has been engraved, etched or permanently marked with VIN. Status: Senate Appropriations.   

SB 1087 – Requires core recyclers who accept converters to maintain specified written records and prohibits any person from purchasing used converter other than a dismantler or auto repair dealer. Status: Senate Appropriations. 

Employment Bills – Concerns

AB 1949 – Provides for five days of employee bereavement leave. Status: Assembly Appropriations.  

AB 2243 – Requires employers to provide a Heat Illness Prevention plan to employees when temperatures exceed 80 degrees. Status: Assembly Appropriations. 

AB 2932 – Requires employer to pay overtime to employees working more than 32 hours a week. Status: Assembly Labor- Not Heard. Not moving.

AB 2182 – Expands the Fair Employment and Housing Act to include “family responsibilities”; Status: Assembly Appropriations.  

SB 1044 – Prohibits an employer from taking adverse action against any employee for refusing to report to work because employee feels unsafe due to state emergency. Status: Senate Appropriations.  

Career Tech Bills

AB 2058 – CAA Supports – This bill would increase career tech funding to $450 million instead of $300 million annually. Status: Assembly Appropriations.   

AB 2088 – Establishes a Pilot Paid Internship Program to help prepare pupils for high-skill jobs of the future. Status: Assembly Appropriations.  

SB 1351 – Establishes the California Youth Apprenticeship Program for purpose of awarding grant funds. Status: Senate Appropriations.  

Employer Tax Credits

SB 1349 – CAA Supports – Allows for $1,000 state tax credit for each employee hired by employer. Status: Senate Appropriations.  

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: Assembly Revenue and Tax.  

Tires

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. The bill will also prohibit a person from selling an unsafe used tire to be used by a vehicle on a highway. Status: Senate Appropriations.   

Smog Check

AB 2496. This bill originally would have required smog check stations to include a sound level test that vehicles would fail smog if the exhaust systems emits a sound level of more than 95dBA. The bill has been amended to require a court to notify DMV to place a hold on a vehicle that has a non-compliant exhaust system until certificate of compliance is obtained from Referee. Status: Assembly Appropriations.  

Engine & Transmission Oil

AB 2968. The bill would revise engine oil specifications and prohibit transmission fluid from being sold without clearly disclosing each duty type classification, as specified. Status: Assembly Consumer Protection – Not Heard.  

Hydrofluorocarbon Gases

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: Senate Appropriations.  

Zero Emissions Aftermarket Conversions

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: Assembly Appropriations.   

Vehicle Insurance

SB 1107 – CAA Supports. This bill, beginning on January 1, 2025, 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) and require the DOI to undertake several studies regarding uninsured motorist policies. Status: Senate Appropriations.    

State Budget

The Governor’s budget includes funding for the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to implement last year’s SB 158, which created a new Hazardous waste oversight Board and the subsequent increase in hazardous waste fees. CAA continues to monitor. 

BAR Regulations

Citation & Fines. BAR continues to move forward with citation and fine regulations which would provide the BAR the ability to issue citations and fines to all auto repair facilities, up to $5,000 per citation. Due to the passage of AB 471, the regulations will include the ability for shops to informally appeal citations before an independent panel and the option to take remedial training to prevent the citation from being posted on the BAR website. Concerns have been raised that any citations and fines issued must be based on objective and fair and reasonable guidelines. The BAR continues to work on addressing concerns raised by the repair industry.  

AB 471 Implementation. BAR is implementing last year’s AB 471 through regulations, which includes an informal appeal process for citations, creating an independent three-member panel to hear citation appeals, remedial training and provider certification, storage fee clarification and vehicle safety inspection program. BAR is prioritizing the regulation packages and planning for more frequent workshops in 2022.   

BAR Advisory Group Committee Meeting. The next BAR meeting will be held on July 21, in Sacramento. It is expected to be an in-person meeting. The BAR is also expected to conduct a regulatory workshop on the same day. 

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