Amended in Senate May 7, 2013

Amended in Senate April 22, 2013

Amended in Senate April 4, 2013

Senate Bill No. 155

Introduced by Senator Padilla

January 31, 2013

An act to amend Sections 3006, 3008, 3012, 3050, 3050.7, 3052, 3056, 3057, 3062, 3063, 3064, 3065, 3065.1, 3066, 3067, 3069.1, 11713.3, and 11713.13 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 155, as amended, Padilla. Vehicles: motor vehicle manufacturers and distributors.

Existing law establishes the New Motor Vehicle Board in the Department of Motor Vehicles, and requires the board to hear and decide certain protests presented by a motor vehicle franchisee. Existing law prescribes procedures to be followed by franchisors, franchisees, and the board regarding claims for warranty reimbursement or incentive compensation. Existing law authorizes franchisors to conduct audits of franchisee warranty records and incentive records on a reasonable basis, and authorizes a franchisor to audit the franchisee’s incentive records for 18 months, and warranty records for 12 months, after a claim is paid or credit issued. Existing law prohibits the disapproval of franchisee claims except for good cause, as specified, and requires that a notice of disapproval state the specific grounds upon which the disapproval is based. Existing law gives a franchisee one year from receipt of the notice of disapproval of an incentive compensation payment to appeal the disapproval to the franchisor and file a protest with the board.

This bill would revise these provisions to require, among other things, the franchisor to provide the franchisee with the specific grounds upon which any previously approved claims will be charged back, if the franchisor disapproves of a previously approved claim after an audit, and to prohibit a previously approved claim from being charged back to the franchisee except under certain circumstances, including when the claim is false or fraudulent. The bill would require the franchisor to provide a reasonable appeal process to allow the franchisee to respond to any disapproval with additional supporting documentation or information rebutting the disapproval, as provided. The bill would authorize the audit of a franchisee’s records for 9 months afer a claim is paid or credit is issued, as specified. The bill would give a franchisee 6 months from the date of receipt of a specified written notice to file a protest with the board, and would specify that in the protest proceeding the franchisor has the burden of proof.

Existing law requires every vehicle franchisor to properly fulfill every warranty agreement made by it and adequately and fairly compensate each of its franchisees for labor and parts used to fulfill that warranty when the franchisee has fulfilled warranty obligations of repair and servicing. Existing law also requires the franchisor to file a copy of its warranty reimbursement schedule or formula with the board begin insert , and requires the board to determine the reasonableness of the warranty reimbursement schedule or formula if the franchisee files a notice of protest with the board end insert .

This bill would additionally require a franchisor to adequately and fairly compensate each of its franchisees for labor and parts used to provide diagnostic services under a warranty. begin delete The bill would also require, if the warranty reimbursement schedule or formula provides franchisee labor compensation on a flat-rate basis, the franchisor to allow the franchisee to use a published, nationally recognized, flat-rate labor time guide as the basis for determining the amount of time allocable for warranty repairs if the franchisee primarily uses the time guide to compute technician flat-rate compensation and charges for nonwarranty labor. end delete begin insert The bill would permit the board, in determining the adequacy and fairness of the compensation, to consider published nationally recognized flat-rate time guides. The bill would also require, if the board determines that the warranty reimbursement schedule or formula fails to provide adequate compensation, the franchisor to correct the failure by amending or replacing the warranty reimbursement schedule and implementing the correction as to all franchisees within 30 days after receipt of the board’s order. end insert

Existing law generally requires a manufacturer branch, remanufacturer, remanufacturer branch, distributor, distributor branch, transporter, or dealer of vehicles to be licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Under existing law, it is unlawful for a manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch to engage in specified practices, including requiring a dealer to make a material alteration, expansion, or addition to any dealership facility, unless the required alteration, expansion, or addition is reasonable in light of all existing circumstances, including economic conditions.

This bill would prohibit a required facility alteration, expansion, or addition from being deemed reasonable if it requires that the dealer purchase goods or services from a specific vendor if substantially similar goods or services are available from another vendor, except as specified. The bill would also prohibit the establishing or maintaining a performance standard, sales objective, or program for measuring a dealer’s sales, service, or customer service performance that may materially affect the dealer, including, but not limited to, the dealer’s right to payment under any incentive or reimbursement program or establishment of working capital requirements, unless certain requirements are satisfied. The bill would also prohibit a manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch from taking or threatening to take any adverse action against a dealer pursuant to a published export or sale-for-resale prohibition because the dealer sold or leased a vehicle to a customer who either exported the vehicle to a foreign country or resold the vehicle, unless the dealer knew or should have known of the customer’s intent to export or resell the vehicle, as specified. Because a violation of these provisions would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

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

SECTION 1.  

The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

(a) The distribution, sale, and service of new motor vehicles in
the State of California vitally affect the general economy of this
state and the public welfare.

(b) The new motor vehicle franchise system, which operates
within a strictly defined and highly regulated statutory scheme,
assures the consuming public of a well-organized distribution
system for the availability and sale of new motor vehicles
throughout the state, provides a network of quality warranty, recall,
and repair facilities to maintain those vehicles, and creates a
cost-effective method for the state to police those systems through
the licensing and regulation of private sector franchisors and
franchisees.

(c) Over the past decade, franchisors have unilaterally and
gradually reduced the amount of flat-rate labor time allocable to
warranty repairs by an unreasonable amount, and have failed to
properly reimburse dealers for repairing vehicles to conform to
the warranty established by the franchisor. Over this period,
franchisors have also regularly denied dealer warranty and
incentive program claims for technical reasons without providing
any rights to rebut the denial or correct technical errors through
reasonable appeal processes, which has resulted in dealers not
being reimbursed when repairing vehicles under the manufacturer
warranty or applying incentive money to a sale.

(d) Franchisors implement punitive policies toward dealers
when vehicles sold by dealers end up being exported, even when
the export takes place without dealer knowledge, resulting in
dealers being charged back for incentive funding that the dealer
accounted for in making the initial sale.

(e) Franchisors measure dealership sales, service, and customer
service performance against standards that are established
unilaterally and without dealer input. Many of these performance
standards are based upon national or statewide performance
averages that bear no resemblance to a dealer’s local market.
Failure to adhere to these standards can result in disqualification
from incentive programs, imposition of unrealistic working capital
requirements, and even termination of a franchise agreement.

(f) Franchisors frequently establish facility models that require
dealers to purchase goods or services from specific vendors, many
of which are located outside of the United States. Those
requirements are generally nonnegotiable, even if a dealer can
obtain substantially similar goods or services from a local
California vendor.

(g) It is the intent of this act to ensure that new motor vehicle
dealers are treated fairly by their franchisors, that dealers are
reasonably compensated for performing warranty repairs on behalf
of their franchisor, that dealers are not punished when vehicles are
exported without dealer knowledge, that performance standards
take into account local market conditions, and that dealers be
allowed to obtain required goods or services through vendors of
their choosing.

SEC. 2.  

Section 3006 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

3006.  

The board shall organize and elect a president from
among its members for a term of one year at the first meeting of
each year. The newly elected president shall assume his or her
duties at the conclusion of the meeting at which he or she was
elected. Reelection to office during membership is unrestricted.

SEC. 3.  

Section 3008 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

3008.  

(a) All meetings of the board shall be open and public,
and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the
board, except that the board may hold executive sessions to
deliberate on the decision to be reached upon the evidence
introduced in a proceeding conducted in accordance with Chapter
5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of
Title 2 of the Government Code.

(b) At all meetings of the board, open or executive, involving
an appeal from a decision of the Director of Motor Vehicles, the
director or his or her authorized representative may attend, present
the position of the department, and then shall absent himself or
herself from any executive session at the request of any member
of the board.

(c) Within the limitations of its powers and authority, and in
the event of disagreement between the board and the director
regarding the decision to be reached, the decision of the board
shall be final.

SEC. 4.  

Section 3012 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

3012.  

Each member of the board shall receive a per diem of
one hundred dollars ($100) for each day actually spent in the
discharge of official duties, and he or she shall be reimbursed for
traveling and other expenses necessarily incurred in the
performance of his or her duties. The per diem and reimbursement
shall be wholly defrayed from funds that shall be provided in the
annual budget of the department.

SEC. 5.  

Section 3050 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

3050.  

The board shall do all of the following:

(a) Adopt rules and regulations in accordance with Chapter 3.5
(commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title
2 of the Government Code governing those matters that are
specifically committed to its jurisdiction.

(b) Hear and determine, within the limitations and in accordance
with the procedure provided, an appeal presented by an applicant
for, or holder of, a license as a new motor vehicle dealer,
manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, distributor branch,
or representative when the applicant or licensee submits an appeal
provided for in this chapter from a decision arising out of the
department.

(c) Consider any matter concerning the activities or practices
of any person applying for or holding a license as a new motor
vehicle dealer, manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor,
distributor branch, or representative pursuant to Chapter 4
(commencing with Section 11700) of Division 5 submitted by any
person. A member of the board who is a new motor vehicle dealer
may not participate in, hear, comment, advise other members upon,
or decide any matter considered by the board pursuant to this
subdivision that involves a dispute between a franchisee and
franchisor. After that consideration, the board may do any one or
any combination of the following:

(1) Direct the department to conduct investigation of matters
that the board deems reasonable, and make a written report on the
results of the investigation to the board within the time specified
by the board.

(2) Undertake to mediate, arbitrate, or otherwise resolve any
honest difference of opinion or viewpoint existing between any
member of the public and any new motor vehicle dealer,
manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor branch, or
representative.

(3) Order the department to exercise any and all authority or
power that the department may have with respect to the issuance,
renewal, refusal to renew, suspension, or revocation of the license
of any new motor vehicle dealer, manufacturer, manufacturer
branch, distributor, distributor branch, or representative as that
license is required under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section
11700) of Division 5.

(d) Hear and decide, within the limitations and in accordance
with the procedure provided, a protest presented by a franchisee
pursuant to Section 3060, 3062, 3064, 3065, 3065.1, 3070, 3072,
3074, 3075, or 3076. A member of the board who is a new motor
vehicle dealer may not participate in, hear, comment, advise other
members upon, or decide, any matter involving a protest filed
pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 3060), unless all
parties to the protest stipulate otherwise.

(e) Notwithstanding subdivisions (c) and (d), the courts have
jurisdiction over all common law and statutory claims originally
cognizable in the courts. For those claims, a party may initiate an
action directly in any court of competent jurisdiction.

SEC. 6.  

Section 3050.7 of the Vehicle Code is amended to
read:

3050.7.  

(a) The board may adopt stipulated decisions and
orders, without a hearing pursuant to Section 3066, to resolve one
or more issues raised by a protest or petition filed with the board.
Whenever the parties to a protest or petition submit a proposed
stipulated decision and order of the board, a copy of the proposed
stipulated decision and order shall be transmitted by the executive
director of the board to each member of the board. The proposed
stipulated decision and order shall be deemed to be adopted by the
board unless a member of the board notifies the executive director
of the board of an objection thereto within 10 days after that board
member has received a copy of the proposed stipulated decision
and order.

(b) If the board adopts a stipulated decision and order to resolve
a protest filed pursuant to Section 3060 or 3070 in which the parties
stipulate that good cause exists for the termination of the franchise
of the protestant, and the order provides for a conditional or
unconditional termination of the franchise of the protestant,
paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 3060 and paragraph
(2) of subdivision (a) of Section 3070, which require a hearing to
determine whether good cause exists for termination of the
franchise, is inapplicable to the proceedings. If the stipulated
decision and order provides for an unconditional termination of
the franchise, the franchise may be terminated without further
proceedings by the board. If the stipulated decision and order
provides for the termination of the franchise, conditioned upon the
failure of a party to comply with specified conditions, the franchise
may be terminated upon a determination, according to the terms
of the stipulated decision and order, that the conditions have not
been met. If the stipulated decision and order provides for the
termination of the franchise conditioned upon the occurrence of
specified conditions, the franchise may be terminated upon a
determination, according to the terms of the stipulated decision
and order, that the stipulated conditions have occurred.

SEC. 7.  

Section 3052 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

3052.  

(a) On or before the 10th day after the last day on which
reconsideration of a final decision of the department can be ordered,
the applicant or licensee may file an appeal with the executive
director of the board. The appeal shall be in writing and shall state
the grounds therefor. A copy of the appeal shall be mailed by the
appellant to the department, and the department shall thereafter
be considered as a party to the appeal. The right to appeal is not
affected by failure to seek reconsideration before the department.

(b) An appeal is considered to be filed on the date it is received
in the office of the executive director of the board, except that an
appeal mailed to the executive director by means of registered mail
is considered to be filed with the executive director on the postmark
date.

(c) The appeal shall be accompanied by evidence that the
appellant has requested the administrative record of the department
and advanced the cost of preparation of that record. The complete
administrative record includes the pleadings, all notices and orders
issued by the department, any proposed decision by an
administrative law judge, the exhibits admitted or rejected, the
written evidence, and any other papers in the case. All parts of the
administrative record requested by the appellant may be filed with
the appeal together with the appellant’s points and authorities. If
the board orders the filing of additional parts of the administrative
record, the board may order prior payment by the appellant of the
cost of providing those additional parts.

(d) Except as provided in subdivisions (e) and (f), a decision of
the department may not become effective during the period in
which an appeal may be filed, and the filing of an appeal shall stay
the decision of the department until a final order is made by the
board.

(e) When a decision has ordered revocation of a dealer’s license,
the department may, on or before the last day upon which an appeal
may be filed with the board, petition the board to order the decision
of the department into effect.

(f) With respect to the department’s petition filed pursuant to
subdivision (e), the department shall have the burden of proof. The
board shall act upon the petition within 14 days or prior to the
effective date of the department’s decision, whichever is later. The
board may order oral argument on the petition before the board.

SEC. 8.  

Section 3056 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

3056.  

When the order reverses the decision of the department,
the board may direct the department to reconsider the matter in
the light of its order and may direct the department to take any
further action as is specially enjoined upon it by law. In all cases
the board shall enter its order within 60 days after the filing of the
appeal, except in the case of unavoidable delay in supplying the
administrative record, in which event the board shall make its final
order within 60 days after receipt of the record.

SEC. 9.  

Section 3057 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

3057.  

The board shall fix an effective date for its orders not
more than 30 days from the day the order is served upon the parties
or remand the case to the department for fixing an effective date.
A final order of the board shall be in writing and copies of the
order shall be delivered to the parties personally or sent to them
by registered mail. The order shall be final upon its delivery or
mailing and no reconsideration or rehearing by the board shall be
permitted.

SEC. 10.  

Section 3062 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

3062.  

(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b),
if a franchisor seeks to enter into a franchise establishing an
additional motor vehicle dealership, or seeks to relocate an existing
motor vehicle dealership, that has a relevant market area within
which the same line-make is represented, the franchisor shall, in
writing, first notify the board and each franchisee in that line-make
in the relevant market area of the franchisor’s intention to establish
an additional dealership or to relocate an existing dealership.
Within 20 days of receiving the notice, satisfying the requirements
of this section, or within 20 days after the end of an appeal
procedure provided by the franchisor, a franchisee required to be
given the notice may file with the board a protest to the proposed
dealership establishment or relocation described in the franchisor’s
notice. If, within this time, a franchisee files with the board a
request for additional time to file a protest, the board or its
executive director, upon a showing of good cause, may grant an
additional 10 days to file the protest. When a protest is filed, the
board shall inform the franchisor that a timely protest has been
filed, that a hearing is required pursuant to Section 3066, and that
the franchisor may not establish the proposed dealership or relocate
the existing dealership until the board has held a hearing as
provided in Section 3066, nor thereafter, if the board has
determined that there is good cause for not permitting the
establishment of the proposed dealership or relocation of the
existing dealership. In the event of multiple protests, hearings may
be consolidated to expedite the disposition of the issue.

(2) If a franchisor seeks to enter into a franchise that authorizes
a satellite warranty facility to be established at, or relocated to, a
proposed location that is within two miles of a dealership of the
same line-make, the franchisor shall first give notice in writing of
the franchisor’s intention to establish or relocate a satellite warranty
facility at the proposed location to the board and each franchisee
operating a dealership of the same line-make within two miles of
the proposed location. Within 20 days of receiving the notice
satisfying the requirements of this section, or within 20 days after
the end of an appeal procedure provided by the franchisor, a
franchisee required to be given the notice may file with the board
a protest to the establishing or relocating of the satellite warranty
facility. If, within this time, a franchisee files with the board a
request for additional time to file a protest, the board or its
executive director, upon a showing of good cause, may grant an
additional 10 days to file the protest. When a protest is filed, the
board shall inform the franchisor that a timely protest has been
filed, that a hearing is required pursuant to Section 3066, and that
the franchisor may not establish or relocate the proposed satellite
warranty facility until the board has held a hearing as provided in
Section 3066, nor thereafter, if the board has determined that there
is good cause for not permitting the satellite warranty facility. In
the event of multiple protests, hearings may be consolidated to
expedite the disposition of the issue.

(3) The written notice shall contain, on the first page thereof in
at least 12-point bold type and circumscribed by a line to segregate
it from the rest of the text, the following statement:

“NOTICE TO DEALER: You have the right to file a protest
with the NEW MOTOR VEHICLE BOARD in Sacramento and
have a hearing on your protest under the terms of the California
Vehicle Code if you oppose this action. You must file your protest
with the board within 20 days of your receipt of this notice, or
within 20 days after the end of any appeal procedure that is
provided by us to you. If within this time you file with the board
a request for additional time to file a protest, the board or its
executive director, upon a showing of good cause, may grant you
an additional 10 days to file the protest.”

(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to either of the following:

(1) The relocation of an existing dealership to a location that is
both within the same city as, and within one mile from, the existing
dealership location.

(2) The establishment at a location that is both within the same
city as, and within one-quarter mile from, the location of a
dealership of the same line-make that has been out of operation
for less than 90 days.

(c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a display of vehicles at a
fair, exposition, or similar exhibit if actual sales are not made at
the event and the display does not exceed 30 days. This subdivision
may not be construed to prohibit a new vehicle dealer from
establishing a branch office for the purpose of selling vehicles at
the fair, exposition, or similar exhibit, even though the event is
sponsored by a financial institution, as defined in Section 31041
of the Financial Code or by a financial institution and a licensed
dealer. The establishment of these branch offices, however, shall
be in accordance with subdivision (a) where applicable.

(d) For the purposes of this section, the reopening of a dealership
that has not been in operation for one year or more shall be deemed
the establishment of an additional motor vehicle dealership.

(e) As used in this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Motor vehicle dealership” or “dealership” means an
authorized facility at which a franchisee offers for sale or lease,
displays for sale or lease, or sells or leases new motor vehicles.

(2) “Satellite warranty facility” means a facility operated by a
franchisee where authorized warranty repairs and service are
performed and the offer for sale or lease, the display for sale or
lease, or the sale or lease of new motor vehicles is not authorized
to take place.

SEC. 11.  

Section 3063 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

3063.  

In determining whether good cause has been established
for not entering into a franchise or relocating an existing dealership
of the same line-make, the board shall take into consideration the
existing circumstances, including, but not limited to, all of the
following:

(a) Permanency of the investment.

(b) Effect on the retail motor vehicle business and the consuming
public in the relevant market area.

(c) Whether it is injurious to the public welfare for an additional
franchise to be established or an existing dealership to be relocated.

(d) Whether the franchisees of the same line-make in the relevant
market area are providing adequate competition and convenient
consumer care for the motor vehicles of the line-make in the market
area, which shall include the adequacy of motor vehicle sales and
service facilities, equipment, supply of vehicle parts, and qualified
service personnel.

(e) Whether the establishment of an additional franchise would
increase competition and therefore be in the public interest.

(f) For purposes of this section, the terms “motor vehicle
dealership” and “dealership” shall have the same meaning as
defined in Section 3062.

SEC. 12.  

Section 3064 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

3064.  

(a) Every franchisor shall specify to its franchisees the
delivery and preparation obligations of the franchisees prior to
delivery of new motor vehicles to retail buyers. A copy of the
delivery and preparation obligations, which shall constitute the
franchisee’s only responsibility for product liability between the
franchisee and the franchisor but shall not in any way affect the
franchisee’s responsibility for product liability between the
purchaser and either the franchisee or the franchisor, and a schedule
of compensation to be paid to franchisees for the work and services
they shall be required to perform in connection with those delivery
and preparation obligations shall be filed with the board by
franchisors, and shall constitute the compensation as set forth on
the schedule. The schedule of compensation shall be reasonable,
with the reasonableness thereof being subject to the approval of
the board, if a franchisee files a notice of protest with the board.
In determining the reasonableness of the schedules, the board shall
consider all relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to,
the time required to perform each function that the dealer is
obligated to perform and the appropriate labor rate.

(b) Upon delivery of the vehicle, the franchisee shall give a
copy of the delivery and preparation obligations to the purchaser
and a written certification that the franchisee has fulfilled these
obligations.

SEC. 13.  

Section 3065 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

3065.  

(a) Every franchisor shall properly fulfill every warranty
agreement made by it and adequately and fairly compensate each
of its franchisees for labor and parts used to fulfill that warranty
when the franchisee has fulfilled warranty obligations of
diagnostics, repair, and servicing and shall file a copy of its
warranty reimbursement schedule or formula with the board. The
warranty reimbursement schedule or formula shall be reasonable
with respect to the time and compensation allowed to the franchisee
for the warranty diagnostics, repair, and servicing, and all other
conditions of the obligation. begin delete If the warranty reimbursement
schedule or formula provides compensation for franchisee labor
on a flat-rate basis, the franchisor shall allow the franchisee to use
a published, nationally recognized, flat-rate labor time guide as
the basis for determining the amount of time allocable for warranty
repairs if the franchisee primarily uses the time guide to compute
technician flat-rate compensation and charges for nonwarranty
labor. end delete The reasonableness of the warranty reimbursement schedule
or formula shall be determined by the board if a franchisee files a
protest with the board. begin insert A franchisor shall not replace, modify, or
supplement the warranty reimbursement schedule to impose a
fixed percentage or other general reduction in the time and
compensation allowed to the franchisee for labor or parts. A
franchisor may reduce the allowed time and compensation
applicable to specific parts or labor operations only upon 30 days end insert begin insert ’
prior written notice to the franchisee. In any protest challenging
a reduction in time and compensation applicable to specific parts
or labor operations that is filed within one year following the
franchisee’s receipt of notice of the reduction, the franchisor shall
have the burden of establishing the reasonableness of the reduction
and adequacy and fairness of the resulting compensation. end insert

(b) In determining the adequacy and fairness of the
compensation, begin insert published, nationally recognized flat-rate time
guides and end insert the franchisee’s effective labor rate charged to its
various retail customers may be considered together with other
relevant criteria. begin insert If in a protest permitted by this section filed by
any franchisee the board determines that the warranty
reimbursement schedule or formula fails in any manner to provide
adequate and fair compensation or fails in whole or in part to
conform with the other requirements of this section, within 30 days
after receipt of the board’s order the franchisor shall correct the
failure by amending or replacing the warranty reimbursement
schedule or formula and implementing the correction as to all
franchisees of the franchisor. end insert

(c) If any franchisor disallows a franchisee’s claim for a
defective part, alleging that the part, in fact, is not defective, the
franchisor shall return the part alleged not to be defective to the
franchisee at the expense of the franchisor, or the franchisee shall
be reimbursed for the franchisee’s cost of the part, at the
franchisor’s option.

(d) (1) All claims made by franchisees pursuant to this section
shall be either approved or disapproved within 30 days after their
receipt by the franchisor. Any claim not specifically disapproved
in writing within 30 days from receipt by the franchisor shall be
deemed approved on the 30th day. All claims made by franchisees
under this section and Section 3064 for labor and parts shall be
paid within 30 days after approval.

(2) A franchisor shall not disapprove a claim unless the claim
is false or fraudulent, repairs were not properly made, repairs were
inappropriate to correct a nonconformity with the written warranty
due to an improper act or omission of the franchisee, or for material
noncompliance with reasonable and nondiscriminatory
documentation and administrative claims submission requirements.
A franchisor shall not disapprove a claim based upon an
extrapolation from a sample of claims.

(3) When any claim is disapproved, the franchisee who submits
it shall be notified in writing of its disapproval within the required
period, and each notice shall state the specific grounds upon which
the disapproval is based. The franchisor shall provide for a
reasonable appeal process allowing the franchisee at least 30 days
after receipt of the written disapproval notice to provide additional
supporting documentation or information rebutting the disapproval.
If disapproval is based upon noncompliance with documentation
or administrative claims submission requirements, the franchisee
shall have 30 days from the date of receipt of the notice to cure
the noncompliance. If the disapproval is rebutted, or any
noncompliance is reasonably cured within that 30-day period, the
franchisor shall approve the claim.

(4) If the franchisee provides additional supporting
documentation or information purporting to rebut the disapproval,
attempts to cure noncompliance relating to the claim, or otherwise
invokes the appeal process described in paragraph (3), and the
franchisor continues to deny the claim, the franchisor shall provide
the franchisee with a written notification of the final denial, which
shall contain the following statement on the first page, in at least
12-point boldface type and circumscribed by a line to segregate it
from the rest of the text:

“NOTICE TO DEALER: WE HAVE DENIED YOUR ATTEMPT
TO CURE NONCOMPLIANCE, REBUT THE DENIAL OF
YOUR WARRANTY CLAIM, OR OTHERWISE APPEAL
DENIAL OF YOUR WARRANTY CLAIM.

begin delete You end delete begin insert “You end insert have the right to file a protest with the NEW MOTOR
VEHICLE BOARD in Sacramento and have a hearing in which
you may protest this denial under the provisions of the California
Vehicle Code. You must file your protest with the board within
six months after receiving this notice.”

(5) Failure to approve or pay within the above specified time
limits, in individual instances for reasons beyond the reasonable
control of the franchisor, shall not constitute a violation of this
article.

(6) Within six months after either receipt of the written notice
described in paragraph (3) or begin delete paragraph end delete (4), whichever is later, a
franchisee may file a protest with the board for determination of
whether the franchisor complied with the requirements of this
subdivision. In any protest pursuant to this subdivision, the
franchisor shall have the burden of proof.

(e) (1) Audits of franchisee warranty records may be conducted
by the franchisor on a reasonable basis for a period of nine months
after a claim is paid or credit issued, and only if the franchisor has
substantial evidence of a pattern of improper warranty claims,
including, but not limited to, a recent significant deviation between
the value or number of warranty claims made by the franchisee
and the average value or number of warranty claims made by
similarly sized dealers of the same line-make.

(2) Previously approved claims shall not be disapproved or
charged back to the franchisee unless the claim is false or
fraudulent, repairs were not properly made, repairs were
inappropriate to correct a nonconformity with the written warranty
due to an improper act or omission of the franchisee, or for material
noncompliance with reasonable and nondiscriminatory
documentation and administrative claims submission requirements.
A franchisor shall not disapprove or chargeback a claim based
upon an extrapolation from a sample of claims.

(3) If the franchisor disapproves of a previously approved claim
following an audit, the franchisor shall provide to the franchisee,
within 30 days after the audit, a written disapproval notice stating
the specific grounds upon which the claim is disapproved. The
franchisor shall provide a reasonable appeal process allowing the
franchisee a reasonable period of not less than 30 days after receipt
of the written disapproval notice to respond to any disapproval
with additional supporting documentation or information rebutting
the disapproval, with the period to be commensurate with the
volume of claims under consideration. If the franchisee rebuts any
disapproval or reasonably cures any noncompliance relating to a
claim, the franchisor shall not chargeback the franchisee for that
claim.

(4) If the franchisee provides additional supporting
documentation or information purporting to rebut the disapproval
or attempts to cure noncompliance relating to the claim and the
franchisor continues to deny the claim, the franchisor shall provide
the franchisee with a written notification of the final denial, which
shall contain the following statement on the first page, in at least
12-point boldface type and circumscribed by a line to segregate it
from the rest of the text:

“NOTICE TO DEALER: WE HAVE DENIED YOUR ATTEMPT
TO CURE NONCOMPLIANCE, REBUT THE DENIAL OF
YOUR WARRANTY CLAIM, OR OTHERWISE APPEAL
DENIAL OF YOUR WARRANTY CLAIM.

“You have the right to file a protest with the NEW MOTOR
VEHICLE BOARD in Sacramento and have a hearing in which
you may protest this denial under the provisions of the California
Vehicle Code. You must file your protest with the board within
six months after receiving this notice.

“WE WILL CHARGE YOU FOR THE DENIED CLAIMS
WITHIN 45 TO 90 DAYS OF THIS NOTICE UNLESS YOU
FILE A PROTEST WITH THE BOARD PRIOR TO
CHARGEBACK.”

(5) The franchisor shall not chargeback the franchisee until 45
days after receipt of the written notice described in paragraph (3)
or paragraph (4), whichever is later. Any chargeback to a franchisee
for warranty parts or service compensation shall be made within
90 days of receipt of that written notice. If the franchisee files a
protest pursuant to this subdivision prior to the franchisor’s
chargeback for denied claims, the franchisor shall not offset or
otherwise undertake to collect the chargeback until the board issues
a final order on the protest. If the board sustains the chargeback
or the protest is dismissed with prejudice, the franchisor shall have
90 days following issuance of the final order or the dismissal with
prejudice to make the chargeback, unless otherwise provided in a
settlement agreement.

(6) Within six months after either receipt of the written
disapproval notice or completion of the franchisor’s appeal process,
whichever is later, a franchisee may file a protest with the board
for determination of whether the franchisor complied with this
subdivision. If a false claim was submitted by a franchisee with
intent to defraud the franchisor, a longer period for audit and any
resulting chargeback may be permitted if the franchisor obtains
an order from the board. In any protest pursuant to this subdivision,
the franchisor shall have the burden of proof.

SEC. 14.  

Section 3065.1 of the Vehicle Code is amended to
read:

3065.1.  

(a) All claims made by a franchisee for payment under
the terms of a franchisor incentive program shall be either approved
or disapproved within 30 days after receipt by the franchisor. When
any claim is disapproved, the franchisee who submits it shall be
notified in writing of its disapproval within the required period,
and each notice shall state the specific grounds upon which the
disapproval is based. Any claim not specifically disapproved in
writing within 30 days from receipt shall be deemed approved on
the 30th day.

(b) Franchisee claims for incentive program compensation shall
not be disapproved unless the claim is false or fraudulent, the claim
is ineligible under the terms of the incentive program as previously
communicated to the franchisee, or for material noncompliance
with reasonable and nondiscriminatory documentation and
administrative claims submission requirements. A franchisor shall
not disapprove a claim based upon an extrapolation from a sample
of claims.

(c) The franchisor shall provide for a reasonable appeal process
allowing the franchisee at least 30 days after receipt of the written
disapproval notice to respond to any disapproval with additional
supporting documentation or information rebutting the disapproval.
If disapproval is based upon noncompliance with documentation
or administrative claims submission requirements, the franchisee
shall have 30 days from the date of receipt of the written
disapproval notice to cure the noncompliance. If the disapproval
is rebutted, or any noncompliance is reasonably cured within that
30-day period, the franchisor shall approve the claim.

(d) If the franchisee provides additional supporting
documentation or information purporting to rebut the disapproval
or attempts to cure noncompliance relating to the claim and the
franchisor continues to deny the claim, the franchisor shall provide
the franchisee with a written notification of the final denial, which
shall contain the following statement on the first page, in at least
12-point boldface type and circumscribed by a line to segregate it
from the rest of the text:

“NOTICE TO DEALER: WE HAVE DENIED YOUR ATTEMPT
TO CURE NONCOMPLIANCE, REBUT THE DENIAL OF
YOUR FRANCHISE INCENTIVE PROGRAM CLAIM, OR
OTHERWISE APPEAL DENIAL OF YOUR CLAIM.

begin delete You end delete begin insert “You end insert have the right to file a protest with the NEW MOTOR
VEHICLE BOARD in Sacramento and have a hearing in which
you may protest this denial under the provisions of the California
Vehicle Code. You must file your protest with the board within
six months after receiving this notice.”

(e) Following the disapproval of a claim, a franchisee shall have
six months from either receipt of the written notice described in
subdivision (a) or (d), whichever is later, to file a protest with the
board for determination of whether the franchisor complied with
this subdivision. In any hearing pursuant to this subdivision, the
franchisor shall have the burden of proof.

(f) All claims made by franchisees under this section shall be
paid within 30 days following approval. Failure to approve or pay
within the above specified time limits, in individual instances for
reasons beyond the reasonable control of the franchisor, do not
constitute a violation of this article.

(g) (1) Audits of franchisee incentive records may be conducted
by the franchisor on a reasonable basis, and for a period of nine
months after a claim is paid or credit issued.

(2) Previously approved claims shall not be disapproved and
charged back unless the claim is false or fraudulent, the claim is
ineligible under the terms of the incentive program as previously
communicated to the franchisee, or for material noncompliance
with reasonable and nondiscriminatory documentation and
administrative claims submission requirements. A franchisor shall
not disapprove a claim or chargeback a claim based upon an
extrapolation from a sample of claims.

(3) If the franchisor disapproves of a previously approved claim
following an audit, the franchisor shall provide to the franchisee,
within 30 days after the audit, a written disapproval notice stating
the specific grounds upon which the claim is disapproved. The
franchisor shall provide a reasonable appeal process allowing the
franchisee a reasonable period of not less than 30 days after receipt
of the written disapproval notice to respond to any chargeback
with additional supporting documentation or information rebutting
the disapproval, with the period to be commensurate with the
volume of claims under consideration.

(4) If the franchisee provides additional supporting
documentation or information purporting to rebut the disapproval,
attempts to cure noncompliance relating to the claim, or otherwise
appeals denial of the claim, and the franchisor continues to deny
the claim, the franchisor shall provide the franchisee with a written
notification of the final denial, which shall contain the following
statement on the first page, in at least 12-point boldface type and
circumscribed by a line to segregate it from the rest of the text:

“NOTICE TO DEALER: WE HAVE DENIED YOUR ATTEMPT
TO CURE NONCOMPLIANCE, REBUT THE DENIAL OF
YOUR FRANCHISOR INCENTIVE PROGRAM CLAIM, OR
OTHERWISE APPEAL DENIAL OF YOUR CLAIM.

“You have the right to file a protest with the NEW MOTOR
VEHICLE BOARD in Sacramento and have a hearing in which
you may protest this denial under the provisions of the California
Vehicle Code. You must file your protest with the board within
six months after receiving this notice.

“WE WILL CHARGE YOU FOR THE DENIED CLAIMS
WITHIN 45 TO 90 DAYS OF THIS NOTICE UNLESS YOU
FILE A PROTEST WITH THE BOARD PRIOR TO
CHARGEBACK.”

(5) The franchisor shall not chargeback the franchisee until 45
days after the franchisee receives the written notice described in
paragraph (3) or (4), whichever is later. If the franchisee reasonably
cures any noncompliance relating to a claim, the franchisor shall
not chargeback the dealer for that claim. Any chargeback to a
franchisee for incentive program compensation shall be made
within 90 days after the franchisee receives that written notice. If
the board sustains the chargeback or the protest is dismissed with
prejudice, the franchisor shall have 90 days following issuance of
the final order or the dismissal with prejudice to make the
chargeback, unless otherwise provided in a settlement agreement.

(6) Within six months after either receipt of the written notice
described in paragraph (3) or begin delete paragraph end delete (4), a franchisee may file
a protest with the board for determination of whether the franchisor
complied with this subdivision. If a false claim was submitted by
a franchisee with the intent to defraud the franchisor, a longer
period for audit and any resulting chargeback may be permitted if
the franchisor obtains an order from the board. If the franchisee
files a protest pursuant to this subdivision prior to the franchisor’s
chargeback for denied claims, the franchisor shall not offset or
otherwise undertake to collect the chargeback until the board issues
a final order on the protest. In any protest pursuant to this
subdivision, the franchisor shall have the burden of proof.

SEC. 15.  

Section 3066 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

3066.  

(a) Upon receiving a protest pursuant to Section 3060,
3062, 3064, 3065, 3065.1, 3070, 3072, 3074, 3075, or 3076, the
board shall fix a time within 60 days of the order, and place of
hearing, and shall send by registered mail a copy of the order to
the franchisor, the protesting franchisee, and all individuals and
groups that have requested notification by the board of protests
and decisions of the board. Except in a case involving a franchisee
who deals exclusively in motorcycles, the board or its executive
director may, upon a showing of good cause, accelerate or postpone
the date initially established for a hearing, but the hearing may not
be rescheduled more than 90 days after the board’s initial order.
For the purpose of accelerating or postponing a hearing date, “good
cause” includes, but is not limited to, the effects upon, and any
irreparable harm to, the parties or interested persons or groups if
the request for a change in hearing date is not granted. The board
or an administrative law judge designated by the board shall hear
and consider the oral and documented evidence introduced by the
parties and other interested individuals and groups, and the board
shall make its decision solely on the record so made. Chapter 4.5
(commencing with Section 11400) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title
2 of the Government Code and Sections 11507.3, 11507.6, 11507.7,
11511, 11511.5, 11513, 11514, 11515, and 11517 of the
Government Code apply to these proceedings.

(b) In a hearing on a protest filed pursuant to Section 3060,
3062, 3070, or 3072, the franchisor shall have the burden of proof
to establish that there is good cause to modify, replace, terminate,
or refuse to continue a franchise. The franchisee shall have the
burden of proof to establish that there is good cause not to enter
into a franchise establishing or relocating an additional motor
vehicle dealership.

(c) In a hearing on a protest alleging a violation of, or filed
pursuant to, Section 3064, 3065, 3065.1, 3074, 3075, or 3076, the
franchisee shall have the burden of proof, but the franchisor has
the burden of proof to establish that a franchisee acted with intent
to defraud the franchisor where that issue is material to a protest
filed pursuant to Section 3065, 3065.1, 3075, or 3076.

(d) A member of the board who is a new motor vehicle dealer
may not participate in, hear, comment, or advise other members
upon, or decide, a matter involving a protest filed pursuant to this
article unless all parties to the protest stipulate otherwise.

SEC. 16.  

Section 3067 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

3067.  

(a) The decision of the board shall be in writing and
shall contain findings of fact and a determination of the issues
presented. The decision shall sustain, conditionally sustain,
overrule, or conditionally overrule the protest. Conditions imposed
by the board shall be for the purpose of assuring performance of
binding contractual agreements between franchisees and franchisors
or otherwise serving the purposes of this article or Article 5
(commencing with Section 3070). If the board fails to act within
30 days after the hearing, within 30 days after the board receives
a proposed decision where the case is heard before an
administrative law judge alone, or within a period necessitated by
Section 11517 of the Government Code, or as may be mutually
agreed upon by the parties, then the proposed action shall be
deemed to be approved. Copies of the board’s decision shall be
delivered to the parties personally or sent to them by registered
mail, as well as to all individuals and groups that have requested
notification by the board of protests and decisions by the board.
The board’s decision shall be final upon its delivery or mailing
and a reconsideration or rehearing is not permitted.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 11517 of the
Government Code, if a protest is heard by an administrative law
judge alone, 10 days after receipt by the board of the administrative
law judge’s proposed decision, a copy of the proposed decision
shall be filed by the board as a public record and a copy shall be
served by the board on each party and his or her attorney.

SEC. 17.  

Section 3069.1 of the Vehicle Code is amended to
read:

3069.1.  

Sections 3060 to 3065.1, inclusive, do not apply to a
franchise authorizing a dealership, as defined in subdivision (d)
of Section 3072.

SEC. 18.  

Section 11713.3 of the Vehicle Code is amended to
read:

11713.3.  

It is unlawful and a violation of this code for a
manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor
branch licensed pursuant to this code to do, directly or indirectly
through an affiliate, any of the following:

(a) To refuse or fail to deliver in reasonable quantities and within
a reasonable time after receipt of an order from a dealer having a
franchise for the retail sale of a new vehicle sold or distributed by
the manufacturer or distributor, a new vehicle or parts or
accessories to new vehicles as are covered by the franchise, if the
vehicle, parts, or accessories are publicly advertised as being
available for delivery or actually being delivered. This subdivision
is not violated, however, if the failure is caused by acts or causes
beyond the control of the manufacturer, manufacturer branch,
distributor, or distributor branch.

(b) To prevent or require, or attempt to prevent or require, by
contract or otherwise, a change in the capital structure of a
dealership or the means by or through which the dealer finances
the operation of the dealership, if the dealer at all times meets
reasonable capital standards agreed to by the dealer and the
manufacturer or distributor, and if a change in capital structure
does not cause a change in the principal management or have the
effect of a sale of the franchise without the consent of the
manufacturer or distributor.

(c) To prevent or require, or attempt to prevent or require, a
dealer to change the executive management of a dealership, other
than the principal dealership operator or operators, if the franchise
was granted to the dealer in reliance upon the personal
qualifications of that person.

(d) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (t), to prevent or
require, or attempt to prevent or require, by contract or otherwise,
a dealer, or an officer, partner, or stockholder of a dealership, the
sale or transfer of a part of the interest of any of them to another
person. A dealer, officer, partner, or stockholder shall not, however,
have the right to sell, transfer, or assign the franchise, or a right
thereunder, without the consent of the manufacturer or distributor
except that the consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

(2) (A) For the transferring franchisee to fail, prior to the sale,
transfer, or assignment of a franchisee or the sale, assignment, or
transfer of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the franchised
business or a controlling interest in the franchised business to
another person, to notify the manufacturer or distributor of the
franchisee’s decision to sell, transfer, or assign the franchise. The
notice shall be in writing and shall include all of the following:

(i) The proposed transferee’s name and address.

(ii) A copy of all of the agreements relating to the sale,
assignment, or transfer of the franchised business or its assets.

(iii) The proposed transferee’s application for approval to
become the successor franchisee. The application shall include
forms and related information generally utilized by the
manufacturer or distributor in reviewing prospective franchisees,
if those forms are readily made available to existing franchisees.
As soon as practicable after receipt of the proposed transferee’s
application, the manufacturer or distributor shall notify the
franchisee and the proposed transferee of information needed to
make the application complete.

(B) For the manufacturer or distributor, to fail, on or before 60
days after the receipt of all of the information required pursuant
to subparagraph (A), or as extended by a written agreement
between the manufacturer or distributor and the franchisee, to
notify the franchisee of the approval or the disapproval of the sale,
transfer, or assignment of the franchise. The notice shall be in
writing and shall be personally served or sent by certified mail,
return receipt requested, or by guaranteed overnight delivery
service that provides verification of delivery and shall be directed
to the franchisee. A proposed sale, assignment, or transfer shall
be deemed approved, unless disapproved by the franchisor in the
manner provided by this subdivision. If the proposed sale,
assignment, or transfer is disapproved, the franchisor shall include
in the notice of disapproval a statement setting forth the reasons
for the disapproval.

(3) In an action in which the manufacturer’s or distributor’s
withholding of consent under this subdivision or subdivision (e)
is an issue, whether the withholding of consent was unreasonable
is a question of fact requiring consideration of all the existing
circumstances.

(e) To prevent, or attempt to prevent, a dealer from receiving
fair and reasonable compensation for the value of the franchised
business. There shall not be a transfer or assignment of the dealer’s
franchise without the consent of the manufacturer or distributor,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or conditioned
upon the release, assignment, novation, waiver, estoppel, or
modification of a claim or defense by the dealer.

(f) To obtain money, goods, services, or another benefit from
a person with whom the dealer does business, on account of, or in
relation to, the transaction between the dealer and that other person,
other than for compensation for services rendered, unless the
benefit is promptly accounted for, and transmitted to, the dealer.

(g) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), to obtain from a
dealer or enforce against a dealer an agreement, provision, release,
assignment, novation, waiver, or estoppel that does any of the
following:

(A) Modifies or disclaims a duty or obligation of a manufacturer,
manufacturer branch, distributor, distributor branch, or
representative, or a right or privilege of a dealer, pursuant to
Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11700) of Division 5 or
Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 3000) of Division 2.

(B) Limits or constrains the right of a dealer to file, pursue, or
submit evidence in connection with a protest before the board.

(C) Requires a dealer to terminate a franchise.

(D) Requires a controversy between a manufacturer,
manufacturer branch, distributor, distributor branch, or
representative and a dealer to be referred to a person for a binding
determination. However, this subparagraph does not prohibit
arbitration before an independent arbitrator, provided that whenever
a motor vehicle franchise contract provides for the use of arbitration
to resolve a controversy arising out of, or relating to, that contract,
arbitration may be used to settle the controversy only if, after the
controversy arises, all parties to the controversy consent in writing
to use arbitration to settle the controversy. For the purpose of this
subparagraph, the terms “motor vehicle” and “motor vehicle
franchise contract” shall have the same meaning as defined in
Section 1226 of Title 15 of the United States Code. If arbitration
is elected to settle a dispute under a motor vehicle franchise
contract, the arbitrator shall provide the parties to the arbitration
with a written explanation of the factual and legal basis for the
award.

(2) An agreement, provision, release, assignment, novation,
waiver, or estoppel prohibited by this subdivision shall be
unenforceable and void.

(3) This subdivision does not do any of the following:

(A) Limit or restrict the terms upon which parties to a protest
before the board, civil action, or other proceeding can settle or
resolve, or stipulate to evidentiary or procedural matters during
the course of, a protest, civil action, or other proceeding.

(B) Affect the enforceability of any stipulated order or other
order entered by the board.

(C) Affect the enforceability of any provision in a contract if
the provision is not prohibited under this subdivision or any other
law.

(D) Affect the enforceability of a provision in any contract
entered into on or before December 31, 2011.

(E) Prohibit a dealer from waiving its right to file a protest
pursuant to Section 3065.1 if the waiver agreement is entered into
after a franchisor incentive program claim has been disapproved
by the franchisor and the waiver is voluntarily given as part of an
agreement to settle that claim.

(F) Prohibit a voluntary agreement supported by valuable
consideration, other than granting or renewing a franchise, that
does both of the following:

(i) Provides that a dealer establish or maintain exclusive
facilities, personnel, or display space or provides that a dealer
make a material alteration, expansion, or addition to a dealership
facility.

(ii) Contains no waiver or other provision prohibited by
subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (1).

(G) Prohibit an agreement separate from the franchise agreement
that implements a dealer’s election to terminate the franchise if
the agreement is conditioned only on a specified time for
termination or payment of consideration to the dealer.

(H) (i) Prohibit a voluntary waiver agreement, supported by
valuable consideration, other than the consideration of renewing
a franchise, to waive the right of a dealer to file a protest under
Section 3062 for the proposed establishment or relocation of a
specific proposed dealership, if the waiver agreement provides all
of the following:

(I) The approximate address at which the proposed dealership
will be located.

(II) The planning potential used to establish the proposed
dealership’s facility, personnel, and capital requirements.

(III) An approximation of projected vehicle and parts sales, and
number of vehicles to be serviced at the proposed dealership.

(IV) Whether the franchisor or affiliate will hold an ownership
interest in the proposed dealership or real property of the proposed
dealership, and the approximate percentage of any franchisor or
affiliate ownership interest in the proposed dealership.

(V) The line-makes to be operated at the proposed dealership.

(VI) If known at the time the waiver agreement is executed, the
identity of the dealer who will operate the proposed dealership.

(VII) The date the waiver agreement is to expire, which may
not be more than 30 months after the date of execution of the
waiver agreement.

(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of a waiver agreement
entered into pursuant to the provisions of this subparagraph, a
dealer may file a protest under Section 3062 if any of the
information provided pursuant to clause (i) has become materially
inaccurate since the waiver agreement was executed. Any
determination of the enforceability of a waiver agreement shall be
determined by the board and the franchisor shall have the burden
of proof.

(h) To increase prices of motor vehicles that the dealer had
ordered for private retail consumers prior to the dealer’s receipt
of the written official price increase notification. A sales contract
signed by a private retail consumer is evidence of the order. In the
event of manufacturer price reductions, the amount of the reduction
received by a dealer shall be passed on to the private retail
consumer by the dealer if the retail price was negotiated on the
basis of the previous higher price to the dealer. Price reductions
apply to all vehicles in the dealer’s inventory that were subject to
the price reduction. Price differences applicable to new model or
series motor vehicles at the time of the introduction of new models
or series shall not be considered a price increase or price decrease.
This subdivision does not apply to price changes caused by either
of the following:

(1) The addition to a motor vehicle of required or optional
equipment pursuant to state or federal law.

(2) Revaluation of the United States dollar in the case of a
foreign-make vehicle.

(i) To fail to pay to a dealer, within a reasonable time following
receipt of a valid claim by a dealer thereof, a payment agreed to
be made by the manufacturer or distributor to the dealer by reason
of the fact that a new vehicle of a prior year model is in the dealer’s
inventory at the time of introduction of new model vehicles.

(j) To deny the widow, widower, or heirs designated by a
deceased owner of a dealership the opportunity to participate in
the ownership of the dealership or successor dealership under a
valid franchise for a reasonable time after the death of the owner.

(k) To offer refunds or other types of inducements to a person
for the purchase of new motor vehicles of a certain line-make to
be sold to the state or a political subdivision of the state without
making the same offer to all other dealers in the same line-make
within the relevant market area.

(l) To modify, replace, enter into, relocate, terminate, or refuse
to renew a franchise in violation of Article 4 (commencing with
Section 3060) of Chapter 6 of Division 2.

(m) To employ a person as a representative who has not been
licensed pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 11900)
of Chapter 4 of Division 5.

(n) To deny a dealer the right of free association with another
dealer for a lawful purpose.

(o) (1) To compete with a dealer in the same line-make
operating under an agreement or franchise from a manufacturer
or distributor in the relevant market area.

(2) A manufacturer, branch, or distributor or an entity that
controls or is controlled by, a manufacturer, branch, or distributor,
shall not, however, be deemed to be competing in the following
limited circumstances:

(A) Owning or operating a dealership for a temporary period,
not to exceed one year at the location of a former dealership of the
same line-make that has been out of operation for less than six
months. However, after a showing of good cause by a
manufacturer, branch, or distributor that it needs additional time
to operate a dealership in preparation for sale to a successor
independent franchisee, the board may extend the time period.

(B) Owning an interest in a dealer as part of a bona fide dealer
development program that satisfies all of the following
requirements:

(i) The sole purpose of the program is to make franchises
available to persons lacking capital, training, business experience,
or other qualities ordinarily required of prospective franchisees
and the dealer development candidate is an individual who is
unable to acquire the franchise without assistance of the program.

(ii) The dealer development candidate has made a significant
investment subject to loss in the franchised business of the dealer.

(iii) The program requires the dealer development candidate to
manage the day-to-day operations and business affairs of the dealer
and to acquire, within a reasonable time and on reasonable terms
and conditions, beneficial ownership and control of a majority
interest in the dealer and disassociation of any direct or indirect
ownership or control by the manufacturer, branch, or distributor.

(C) Owning a wholly owned subsidiary corporation of a
distributor that sells motor vehicles at retail, if, for at least three
years prior to January 1, 1973, the subsidiary corporation has been
a wholly owned subsidiary of the distributor and engaged in the
sale of vehicles at retail.

(3) (A) A manufacturer, branch, and distributor that owns or
operates a dealership in the manner described in subparagraph (A)
of paragraph (2) shall give written notice to the board, within 10
days, each time it commences or terminates operation of a
dealership and each time it acquires, changes, or divests itself of
an ownership interest.

(B) A manufacturer, branch, and distributor that owns an interest
in a dealer in the manner described in subparagraph (B) of
paragraph (2) shall give written notice to the board, annually, of
the name and location of each dealer in which it has an ownership
interest, the name of the bona fide dealer development owner or
owners, and the ownership interests of each owner expressed as a
percentage.

(p) To unfairly discriminate among its franchisees with respect
to warranty reimbursement or authority granted to its franchisees
to make warranty adjustments with retail customers.

(q) To sell vehicles to a person not licensed pursuant to this
chapter for resale.

(r) To fail to affix an identification number to a park trailer, as
described in Section 18009.3 of the Health and Safety Code, that
is manufactured on or after January 1, 1987, and that does not
clearly identify the unit as a park trailer to the department. The
configuration of the identification number shall be approved by
the department.

(s) To dishonor a warranty, rebate, or other incentive offered
to the public or a dealer in connection with the retail sale of a new
motor vehicle, based solely upon the fact that an autobroker
arranged or negotiated the sale. This subdivision shall not prohibit
the disallowance of that rebate or incentive if the purchaser or
dealer is ineligible to receive the rebate or incentive pursuant to
any other term or condition of a rebate or incentive program.

(t) To exercise a right of first refusal or other right requiring a
franchisee or an owner of the franchise to sell, transfer, or assign
to the franchisor, or to a nominee of the franchisor, all or a material
part of the franchised business or of the assets of the franchised
business unless all of the following requirements are met:

(1) The franchise authorizes the franchisor to exercise a right
of first refusal to acquire the franchised business or assets of the
franchised business in the event of a proposed sale, transfer, or
assignment.

(2) The franchisor gives written notice of its exercise of the
right of first refusal no later than 45 days after the franchisor
receives all of the information required pursuant to subparagraph
(A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).

(3) The sale, transfer, or assignment being proposed relates to
not less than all or substantially all of the assets of the franchised
business or to a controlling interest in the franchised business.

(4) The proposed transferee is neither a family member of an
owner of the franchised business, nor a managerial employee of
the franchisee owning 15 percent or more of the franchised
business, nor a corporation, partnership, or other legal entity owned
by the existing owners of the franchised business. For purposes of
this paragraph, a “family member” means the spouse of an owner
of the franchised business, the child, grandchild, brother, sister,
or parent of an owner, or a spouse of one of those family members.
This paragraph does not limit the rights of the franchisor to
disapprove a proposed transferee as provided in subdivision (d).

(5) Upon the franchisor’s exercise of the right of first refusal,
the consideration paid by the franchisor to the franchisee and
owners of the franchised business shall equal or exceed all
consideration that each of them were to have received under the
terms of, or in connection with, the proposed sale, assignment, or
transfer, and the franchisor shall comply with all the terms and
conditions of the agreement or agreements to sell, transfer, or
assign the franchised business.

(6) The franchisor shall reimburse the proposed transferee for
expenses paid or incurred by the proposed transferee in evaluating,
investigating, and negotiating the proposed transfer to the extent
those expenses do not exceed the usual, customary, and reasonable
fees charged for similar work done in the area in which the
franchised business is located. These expenses include, but are not
limited to, legal and accounting expenses, and expenses incurred
for title reports and environmental or other investigations of real
property on which the franchisee’s operations are conducted. The
proposed transferee shall provide the franchisor a written
itemization of those expenses, and a copy of all nonprivileged
reports and studies for which expenses were incurred, if any, within
30 days of the proposed transferee’s receipt of a written request
from the franchisor for that accounting. The franchisor shall make
payment within 30 days of exercising the right of first refusal.

(u) (1) To unfairly discriminate in favor of a dealership owned
or controlled, in whole or in part, by a manufacturer or distributor
or an entity that controls or is controlled by the manufacturer or
distributor. Unfair discrimination includes, but is not limited to,
the following:

(A) The furnishing to a franchisee or dealer that is owned or
controlled, in whole or in part, by a manufacturer, branch, or
distributor of any of the following:

(i) A vehicle that is not made available to each franchisee
pursuant to a reasonable allocation formula that is applied
uniformly, and a part or accessory that is not made available to all
franchisees on an equal basis when there is no reasonable allocation
formula that is applied uniformly.

(ii) A vehicle, part, or accessory that is not made available to
each franchisee on comparable delivery terms, including the time
of delivery after the placement of an order. Differences in delivery
terms due to geographic distances or other factors beyond the
control of the manufacturer, branch, or distributor shall not
constitute unfair competition.

(iii) Information obtained from a franchisee by the manufacturer,
branch, or distributor concerning the business affairs or operations
of a franchisee in which the manufacturer, branch, or distributor
does not have an ownership interest. The information includes,
but is not limited to, information contained in financial statements
and operating reports, the name, address, or other personal
information or buying, leasing, or service behavior of a dealer
customer, and other information that, if provided to a franchisee
or dealer owned or controlled by a manufacturer or distributor,
would give that franchisee or dealer a competitive advantage. This
clause does not apply if the information is provided pursuant to a
subpoena or court order, or to aggregated information made
available to all franchisees.

(iv) Sales or service incentives, discounts, or promotional
programs that are not made available to all California franchises
of the same line-make on an equal basis.

(B) Referring a prospective purchaser or lessee to a dealer in
which a manufacturer, branch, or distributor has an ownership
interest, unless the prospective purchaser or lessee resides in the
area of responsibility assigned to that dealer or the prospective
purchaser or lessee requests to be referred to that dealer.

(2) This subdivision does not prohibit a franchisor from granting
a franchise to prospective franchisees or assisting those franchisees
during the course of the franchise relationship as part of a program
or programs to make franchises available to persons lacking capital,
training, business experience, or other qualifications ordinarily
required of prospective franchisees.

(v) (1) To access, modify, or extract information from a
confidential dealer computer record, as defined in Section
11713.25, without obtaining the prior written consent of the dealer
and without maintaining administrative, technical, and physical
safeguards to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of
the information.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not limit a duty that a dealer may have
to safeguard the security and privacy of records maintained by the
dealer.

(w) (1) To use electronic, contractual, or other means to prevent
or interfere with any of the following:

(A) The lawful efforts of a dealer to comply with federal and
state data security and privacy laws.

(B) The ability of a dealer to do either of the following:

(i) Ensure that specific data accessed from the dealer’s computer
system is within the scope of consent specified in subdivision (v).

(ii) Monitor specific data accessed from or written to the dealer’s
computer system.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not limit a duty that a dealer may have
to safeguard the security and privacy of records maintained by the
dealer.

(x) (1) To unfairly discriminate against a franchisee selling a
service contract, debt cancellation agreement, maintenance
agreement, or similar product not approved, endorsed, sponsored,
or offered by the manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor,
or distributor branch or affiliate. For purposes of this subdivision,
unfair discrimination includes, but is not limited to, any of the
following:

(A) Express or implied statements that the dealer is under an
obligation to exclusively sell or offer to sell service contracts, debt
cancellation agreements, or similar products approved, endorsed,
sponsored, or offered by the manufacturer, manufacturer branch,
distributor, or distributor branch or affiliate.

(B) Express or implied statements that selling or offering to sell
service contracts, debt cancellation agreements, maintenance
agreements, or similar products not approved, endorsed, sponsored,
or offered by the manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor,
or distributor branch or affiliate, or the failure to sell or offer to
sell service contracts, debt cancellation agreements, maintenance
agreements, or similar products approved, endorsed, sponsored,
or offered by the manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor,
or distributor branch or affiliate will have any negative
consequences for the dealer.

(C) Measuring a dealer’s performance under a franchise
agreement based upon the sale of service contracts, debt
cancellation agreements, or similar products approved, endorsed,
sponsored, or offered by the manufacturer, manufacturer branch,
distributor, or distributor branch or affiliate.

(D) Requiring a dealer to actively promote the sale of service
contracts, debt cancellation agreements, or similar products
approved, endorsed, sponsored, or offered by the manufacturer,
manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch or affiliate.

(E) Conditioning access to vehicles or parts, or vehicle sales or
service incentives upon the sale of service contracts, debt
cancellation agreements, or similar products approved, endorsed,
sponsored, or offered by the manufacturer, manufacturer branch,
distributor, or distributor branch or affiliate.

(2) Unfair discrimination does not include, and nothing shall
prohibit a manufacturer from, offering an incentive program to
vehicle dealers who voluntarily sell or offer to sell service
contracts, debt cancellation agreements, or similar products
approved, endorsed, sponsored, or offered by the manufacturer,
manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch or affiliate,
if the program does not provide vehicle sales or service incentives.

(3) This subdivision does not prohibit a manufacturer,
manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch from
requiring a franchisee that sells a used vehicle as “certified” under
a certified used vehicle program established by the manufacturer,
manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor branch to provide
a service contract approved, endorsed, sponsored, or offered by
the manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor
branch.

(4) Unfair discrimination does not include, and nothing shall
prohibit a franchisor from requiring a franchisee to provide, the
following notice prior to the sale of the service contract if the
service contract is not provided or backed by the franchisor and
the vehicle is of the franchised line-make:

“Service Contract Disclosure
The service contract you are purchasing is not provided or backed
by the manufacturer of the vehicle you are purchasing. The
manufacturer of the vehicle is not responsible for claims or repairs
under this service contract.
_____________________
Signature of Purchaser”

begin insert end insert

(y) To take or threaten to take any adverse action against a dealer
pursuant to a published export or sale-for-resale prohibition because
the dealer sold or leased a vehicle to a customer who either
exported the vehicle to a foreign country or resold the vehicle in
violation of the prohibition, unless the dealer knew or reasonably
should have known of the customer’s intent to export or resell the
vehicle in violation of the prohibition at the time of sale or lease.
If the dealer causes the vehicle to be registered in this or any other
state, and collects or causes to be collected any applicable sales
or use tax due to this state, a rebuttable presumption is established
that the dealer did not have reason to know of the customer’s intent
to export or resell the vehicle.

(z) As used in this section, “area of responsibility” is a
geographic area specified in a franchise that is used by the
franchisor for the purpose of evaluating the franchisee’s
performance of its sales and service obligations.

SEC. 19.  

Section 11713.13 of the Vehicle Code is amended to
read:

11713.13.  

It is unlawful and a violation of this code for any
manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, or distributor
branch licensed under this code to do, directly or indirectly through
an affiliate, any of the following:

(a) Prevent, or attempt to prevent, by contract or otherwise, a
dealer from acquiring, adding, or maintaining a sales or service
operation for another line-make of motor vehicles at the same or
expanded facility at which the dealer currently operates a dealership
if the dealer complies with any reasonable facilities and capital
requirements of the manufacturer or distributor.

(b) Require a dealer to establish or maintain exclusive facilities,
personnel, or display space if the imposition of the requirement
would be unreasonable in light of all existing circumstances,
including economic conditions. In any proceeding under this
subdivision or subdivision (a) in which the reasonableness of a
facility or capital requirement is an issue, the manufacturer or
distributor shall have the burden of proof.

(c) Require, by contract or otherwise, a dealer to make a material
alteration, expansion, or addition to any dealership facility, unless
the required alteration, expansion, or addition is reasonable in light
of all existing circumstances, including economic conditions.

(1) A required facility alteration, expansion, or addition shall
not be deemed reasonable if it requires that the dealer purchase
goods or services from a specific vendor when substantially similar
goods or services are available from another vendor. This paragraph
does not authorize a dealer to impair or eliminate the intellectual
property rights of the manufacturer, manufacturer branch,
distributor, or distributor branch, or to permit a dealer to erect or
maintain signs that do not conform to the intellectual property
usage guidelines of the manufacturer, manufacturer branch,
distributor, or distributor branch. This paragraph shall not apply
to a specific good or service if the manufacturer, manufacturer
branch, distributor, or distributor branch provides the dealer with
a lump-sum payment of a substantial portion of the cost of that
good or service.

(2) In any proceeding in which a required facility alteration,
expansion, or addition is an issue, the manufacturer, manufacturer
branch, distributor, distributor branch, or affiliate shall have the
burden of proof.

(d) (1) Fail to pay to a dealer, within 90 days of termination,
cancellation, or nonrenewal of a franchise, all of the following:

(A) The dealer cost, plus any charges made by the manufacturer
or distributor for vehicle distribution or delivery and the cost of
any dealer-installed original equipment accessories, less any
amount invoiced to the vehicle and paid by the manufacturer or
distributor to the dealer, for all new and undamaged vehicles with
less than 500 miles in the dealer’s inventory that were acquired
by the dealer from the manufacturer, distributor, or another new
motor vehicle dealer franchised to sell vehicles of the same
line-make, in the ordinary course of business, within 18 months
of termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal of the franchise.

(B) The dealer cost for all unused and undamaged supplies,
parts, and accessories listed in the manufacturer’s current parts
catalog and in their original packaging, except that sheet metal
may be packaged in a comparable substitute for the original
package.

(C) The fair market value of each undamaged sign owned by
the motor vehicle dealer and bearing a common name, trade name,
or trademark of the manufacturer or distributor if acquisition of
the sign was required or made a condition of participation in an
incentive program by the manufacturer or distributor.

(D) The fair market value of all special tools, computer systems,
and equipment that were required or made a condition of
participation in an incentive program by the manufacturer or
distributor that are in usable condition, excluding normal wear and
tear.

(E) The dealer costs of handling, packing, loading, and
transporting any items or inventory for repurchase by the
manufacturer or distributor.

(2) This subdivision does not apply to a franchisor of a dealer
of new recreational vehicles, as defined in subdivision (a) of
Section 18010 of the Health and Safety Code.

(3) This subdivision does not apply to a termination that is
implemented as a result of the sale of substantially all of the
inventory and fixed assets or stock of a franchised dealership if
the dealership continues to operate as a franchisee of the same
line-make.

(e) (1) (A) Fail to pay to a dealer of new recreational vehicles,
as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 18010 of the Health and
Safety Code, within 90 days of termination, cancellation, or
nonrenewal of a franchise for a recreational vehicle line-make, as
defined in Section 3072.5, the dealer cost, plus any charges made
by the manufacturer or distributor for vehicle distribution or
delivery and the cost of any dealer-installed original equipment
accessories, less any amount invoiced to the vehicle and paid by
the manufacturer or distributor to the dealer, for a new recreational
vehicle when the termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal is
initiated by a recreational vehicle manufacturer. This paragraph
only applies to new and unused recreational vehicles that do not
currently have or have had in the past, material damage, as defined
in Section 9990, and that the dealer acquired from the
manufacturer, distributor, or another new motor vehicle dealer
franchised to sell recreational vehicles of the same line-make in
the ordinary course of business within 12 months of the
termination, cancellation, or nonrenewal of the franchise.

(B) For those recreational vehicles with odometers, paragraph
(1) shall apply to only those vehicles that have no more than 1,500
miles on the odometer, in addition to the number of miles incurred
while delivering the vehicle from the manufacturer’s facility that
produced the vehicle for delivery to the dealer’s retail location.

(C) Damaged recreational vehicles shall be repurchased by the
manufacturer provided there is an offset in value for damages,
except recreational vehicles that have or had material damage, as
defined in Section 9990, may be repurchased at the manufacturer’s
option provided there is an offset in value for damages.

(2) Fail to pay to a dealer of new recreational vehicles, as
defined in subdivision (a) of Section 18010 of the Health and
Safety Code, within 90 days of termination, cancellation, or
nonrenewal of a franchise, all of the following:

(A) The dealer cost for all unused and undamaged supplies,
parts, and accessories listed in the manufacturer’s current parts
catalog and in their original packaging, except that sheet metal
may be packaged in a comparable substitute for the original
package.

(B) The fair market value of each undamaged sign owned by
the motor vehicle dealer and bearing a common name, trade name,
or trademark of the manufacturer or distributor if acquisition of
the sign was required or made a condition of participation in an
incentive program by the manufacturer or distributor.

(C) The fair market value of all special tools, computer systems,
and equipment that were required or made a condition of
participation in an incentive program by the manufacturer or
distributor that are in usable condition, excluding normal wear and
tear.

(D) The dealer costs of handling, packing, loading, and
transporting any items or inventory for repurchase by the
manufacturer or distributor.

(f) (1) Fail, upon demand, to indemnify any existing or former
franchisee and the franchisee’s successors and assigns from any
and all damages sustained and attorney’s fees and other expenses
reasonably incurred by the franchisee that result from or relate to
any claim made or asserted by a third party against the franchisee
to the extent the claim results from any of the following:

(A) The condition, characteristics, manufacture, assembly, or
design of any vehicle, parts, accessories, tools, or equipment, or
the selection or combination of parts or components manufactured
or distributed by the manufacturer or distributor.

(B) Service systems, procedures, or methods the franchisor
required or recommended the franchisee to use if the franchisee
properly uses the system, procedure, or method.

(C) Improper use or disclosure by a manufacturer or distributor
of nonpublic personal information obtained from a franchisee
concerning any consumer, customer, or employee of the franchisee.

(D) Any act or omission of the manufacturer or distributor for
which the franchisee would have a claim for contribution or
indemnity under applicable law or under the franchise, irrespective
of and without regard to any prior termination or expiration of the
franchise.

(2) This subdivision does not limit, in any way, the existing
rights, remedies, or recourses available to any person who
purchases or leases vehicles at retail.

(g) (1) Establish or maintain a performance standard, sales
objective, or program for measuring a dealer’s sales, service, or
customer service performance that may materially affect the dealer,
including, but not limited to, the dealer’s right to payment under
any incentive or reimbursement program or establishment of
working capital requirements, unless both of the following
requirements are satisfied:

(A) The performance standard, sales objective, or program for
measuring dealership sales, service, or customer service
performance is reasonable in light of all existing circumstances,
including, but not limited to, the following:

(i) Demographics in the dealer’s area of responsibility.

(ii) Geographical and market characteristics that affect vehicle
shopping patterns and vehicle preferences in the dealer’s area of
responsibility.

(iii) The availability and allocation of vehicles and parts
inventory available to and provided to the dealer and the number
of units in operation of the line-make in the dealer’s area of
responsibility.

(iv) Local, statewide, and national economic circumstances.

(v) Historical sales, service, and customer service performance
of the dealership and of the line-make within the dealer’s area of
responsibility, including vehicle brand preferences of consumers
in the dealer’s area of responsibility.

(B)  begin delete The end delete begin insert Within 30 days after a request by the dealer, the end insert
manufacturer, manufacturer branch, distributor, distributor branch,
or affiliate provides begin delete all information end delete begin insert a written summary of the
methodology and all studies, reports, minutes, and other data end insert used
begin insert or considered end insert in establishing the performance standard, sales
objective, or program for measuring dealership sales or service
performance begin delete within 20 days upon request by the dealer end delete begin insert . The
summary shall be in detail sufficient to permit the dealer to
determine how the standard was established end insert .

(2) In any proceeding under this subdivision in which the
reasonableness of a performance standard, sales objective, or
program for measuring dealership sales, service, or customer
service performance is an issue, the manufacturer, manufacturer
branch, distributor, distributor branch, or affiliate shall have the
burden of proof. begin delete A performance standard that requires a dealer to
achieve a minimum performance level based on average, median,
or ranked metrics achieved by all or a comparative group of dealers
with respect to sales, service, or customer service shall be presumed
to be unreasonable. end delete

(3) As used in this subdivision, “area of responsibility” shall
have the same meaning as defined in subdivision (z) of Section
11713.3.

SEC. 20.  

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of
the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within
the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.