BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING
Senator Jim Beall, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 808 Hearing Date: 7/14/2015
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|Author: |Ridley-Thomas |
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|Version: |7/1/2015 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant|Randy Chinn |
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SUBJECT: Automotive fuels and products
DIGEST: This bill updates existing laws governing weights and
measures of motor vehicle fuels to also deal with weights and
measures of alternative fuels.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law establish numerous consumer protections regarding
the measurement and content of petroleum fuels which are
regulated by the California Department of Food and Agriculture
(CDFA).
This bill:
1)Revises many of those statutes to make them generally
applicable to other non-petroleum fuels which are becoming
increasingly available.
2)Authorizes the adoption of regulations approved by the
National Conference on Weights and Measures that have been
published by the National Institute of Standards and
Technology handbook on engine-fuel quality.
3)Defines diesel exhaust fluid and glycerine as automotive
products, making them subject to CDFA regulation.
COMMENTS:
AB 808 (Ridley-Thomas) Page 2 of ?
1)Purpose. According to the sponsor, CDFA, this bill allows for
greater utilization of regulated alternative fuels and
automotive products by giving CDFA the authority to: 1)
establish fuel quality specifications that will protect
consumers from substandard products; and 2) regulate the
advertising of new alternative fuels.
2)More choices. Transportation fuel choices are proliferating,
driven by California's policies to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and other pollutants. Consumers are purchasing
hydrogen and electric vehicles in increasing numbers, and of
course these vehicles must be refueled. Other non-traditional
fuels, such as biodiesel, are also available. This bill
updates California statutes, which were written when gasoline
and diesel had a monopoly on transportation fuels, extending
existing consumer protections regarding product quality and
advertising to all fuels. This bill also deletes some
obsolete references.
3)Only CDFA. The CDFA is the only state agency with the
authority to regulate the quality of fuel and automotive
products. No other state agency has the authority to regulate
weights and measures, advertising, labeling, and fuel quality
requirements for motor vehicle fuels and automotive products.
According to the author, for more than eighty years, CDFA has
had oversight authority of the quality of conventional fuels
sold in California. All fuels must comply with fuel-quality
standards and advertising and labeling requirements.
4)No price display. Current law requires gasoline prices to be
visible from the street. This bill exempts electricity and
natural gas sold as motor fuel from this signage requirement.
Supporters contend that these fuels are sold in
non-conventional ways, often prepaid or to fleets, and rarely
to drive-up retail customers, making the signage requirement
unnecessary. Prices will still be required on the pump or
dispensing device.
5)Technical amendment. There is a cross-reference error in the
bill. To correct this the following amendment is necessary:
Page 24, line 7
After "13404" insert "and 13404.5"
1)Double-referred. This bill was heard by the Senate Business
AB 808 (Ridley-Thomas) Page 3 of ?
and Professions Committee on June 22, 2015, and approved 8-0.
Related Legislation:
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 71-5
Appr: 15-0
B&P: 13-0
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on
Wednesday,
July 8, 2015.)
SUPPORT:
California Department of Food and Agriculture (sponsor)
California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition
Clean Energy
UPS
OPPOSITION:
None received
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