Amended in Senate April 8, 2013

Senate Bill No. 600

Introduced by Senator Lieu

February 22, 2013

An act begin insert to add Section 43006.5 to the Health and Safety Code, end insert relating to vehicular air pollution.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 600, as amended, Lieu. Vehicles: alternative fuel.

Existing law generally designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency with the primary responsibility for the control of vehicular air pollution. Existing law authorizes the State Air Resources Board to certify the fuel system of any motor vehicle powered by a fuel other than gasoline or diesel if it meets certain standards and to adopt test procedures for that certification.

begin delete

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that simplifies and improves the alternative fuel conversion certification program administered by the State Air Resources Board.

end delete begin insert

This bill, commencing January 1, 2014, would require the state board to use specified procedures for small volume manufacturers of vehicles seeking to have alternative fuel conversion systems certified by the state board. The bill would require the state board, commencing January 1, 2014, to extend the life of a new vehicle or engine certification until December 31 of the year following a given vehicle model year.

end insert

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  begin delete no end delete begin insert yes end insert . State-mandated local program: no.

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

begin delete

SECTION 1.  

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent
legislation that simplifies and improves the alternative fuel
conversion certification procedures administered by the State Air
Resources Board.

end delete

begin insert

begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 43006.5 is added to the end insert begin insert Health and Safety
Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 43006.5. end insert   

(a) Commencing January 1, 2014, for purposes of
small volume manufacturers of vehicles seeking to have alternative
fuel conversion systems certified by the state board, the state board
shall do all of the following:

(1) Use federal test procedures, as published in Number 68 of
Volume 76 of the Federal Register on April 8, 2011.

(2) Certify to federal tailpipe emissions standards and On-Board
Diagnostics II (OBD II) standards so long as they meet or improve
on the standards to which the original equipment manufacturer
certified on the original fuel.

(3) Automatically qualify new vehicle alternative fuel conversion
certifications for after-market certifications if requested. Requests
may be made with a one-page letter and additional documentation
necessary for labeling and warranty.

(4) Use commercially available fuel for all required emissions
testing.

(5) Conduct only evaporative emissions testing on the added
alternative fuel system when seeking to certify a dual-fuel
conversion.

(b) Commencing January, 1, 2014, the state board shall extend
the life of a new vehicle or engine certification until December 31
of the year following a given vehicle model year.

end insert