BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1854
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 2, 2012

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                   AB 1854 (Brownley) - As Amended:  April 9, 2012 

          Policy Committee:                              
          TransportationVote:14-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill expands the types of actions related to the fraudulent 
          installation of air bags that are considered misdemeanors.  
          Specifically, this bill adds a person who knowingly rewires, 
          tampers with, alters or modifies for compensation, a vehicle's 
          computer system or air bag safety system, including onboard 
          lighting indicators, so that it falsely indicates the air bag 
          system is working.

           FISCAL EFFECT 

          Negligible state and local law enforcement costs.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale.   The author contends existing prohibitions against 
            fraudulently installing or reinstalling an air bag safety 
            system have left a loophole.  Unscrupulous professionals are 
            exploiting the loophole by deceptively using individual 
            components from previously deployed air bag systems and by 
            rewiring onboard computer systems so that a vehicle's air bag 
            system inaccurately appears to function properly.  The author 
            notes that efforts of prosecutors to take legal action against 
            such fraudulent activity have been rebuffed by judges who cite 
            the lack of legal prohibition against such actions. 

           2)Support.   This bill is supported by the Los Angeles' District 
            Attorney's Office (sponsor), the California Police Chiefs 
            Association and Crime Victims Action Alliance.

           3)There is no opposition formally registered to this bill.  








                                                                  AB 1854
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           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081