BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2683
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 21, 2004
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Judy Chu, Chair
AB 2683 (Lieber) - As Amended: March 24, 2004
Policy Committee: Transportation
Vote: 8-4
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill repeals the "rolling exemption" that exempts vehicles
30 or more years-old from the requirements of the Smog Check
programs and replaces the rolling exemption with an exemption
from the Smog Check programs for vehicles manufactured prior to
the 1976 model year.
(Currently, 1975 or older model vehicles are exempt. Next year,
1976 models will be added to the exemption, 1977 models will be
added the next year, and so on.)
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Moderate costs, about $200,000 in FY 2004-05, to the DMV to
modify its vehicle registration notification process to
adequately notify owners of 1976 model year vehicles that
their vehicles are still subject to Smog Check requirements.
(Motor Vehicle Account.)
2)Moderate ongoing and increasing costs to the Bureau of
Automotive Repair to continue to regulate 1976 and later model
year vehicles over the next several years. These costs are
offset by revenue generated by fees imposed on vehicle owners
when they get their vehicles certified at a Smog Check
facility. (Vehicle Inspection and Repair Fund.)
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . The author argues that the rolling exemption from
the Smog Check Programs for vehicles that are 30 years or
older should be ended and replaced with a set exemption for
AB 2683
Page 2
vehicles older than the 1976 model year, because continuing
the rolling exemption would exempt an increasing number of
vehicles that emit substantially more air pollutants than new
vehicles from biennial inspections and other Smog Check
requirements.
Sponsors project that, by 2010, pre-1982 model year vehicles
(that would be exempt if the rolling exemption continued) will
account for 22% of the hydrocarbons and 11% of the oxides of
nitrogen (Nox) emissions despite representing only 2.6% of the
motor vehicle fleet in California and 1.3% of the vehicle
miles traveled. To the extent these older vehicles remain
subject to Smog Check requirements some portion of this
emission contribution would likely be reduced through better
maintenance and vehicle retirement.
2)DMV Concerns . The DMV needs to know what information to
provide owners of motor vehicles, including persons who own
1976 model year, well before Smog Check notices are sent out
with registration renewal notices. If owners of 1976 model
year vehicles are going to continue to be subject to Smog
Check requirements in 2005, the DMV needs to know this by July
2004. Since this bill, if it continues to move after a stay
on the committee's Suspense file, is not likely to be on the
governor's desk before August or September, there is a timing
problem for the DMV. This timing problem would be alleviated
if the bill were amended to limit the exemption to vehicles
manufactured prior to the 1977 model year.
Analysis Prepared by : Steve Archibald / APPR. / (916)
319-2081