BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2024
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Date of Hearing: April 16, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
AB 2024 (Mendoza) - As Amended: March 27, 2012
SUBJECT : Vehicular air pollution: low-use bus exemption for
churches
SUMMARY : States the intent of the Legislature that the
California Air Resources Board (ARB) establish a special
definition of "low-use vehicle" pertaining to tax-exempt
churches and religious organizations; defines "affected vehicle"
to include diesel-fueled school buses, among other vehicles as
specified. Specifically, this bill :
1)States the intent of the Legislature that ARB define "low-use
vehicle," for purposes of tax-exempt churches and religious
organizations, to mean a vehicle that will be operated fewer
than 5,000 miles per year within the state. Provides further
direction to ARB, as specified, for vehicles that have other
equipment that is powered by the vehicle's engine while the
vehicle is stationary.
2)Defines "affected vehicle" as a vehicle that:
a) Operates on diesel-fuel, dual-fuel, or alternative
diesel-fuel that are registered to be driven on public
highways;
b) Were originally designed to be driven on public highways
whether or not they are registered;
c) Yard trucks with on-road engines or yard trucks with
off-road engines used for agricultural operation, both
engines of two-engine sweepers, and school buses; and,
d) Has a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
greater than 14,000 pounds, except as exempted by ARB.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Imposes various limitations on emissions of air contaminants
for the control of air pollution from vehicular and
nonvehicular sources.
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2)Designates, generally, ARB as the state agency with the
primary responsibility for the control of vehicular air
pollution.
3)Requires ARB to adopt and implement motor vehicle emission
standards, in-use performance standards, and motor vehicle
fuel specifications for the control of air contaminants,
including standards for off-road and nonvehicle engine
categories.
4)Pursuant to ARB's "In-use, heavy-duty diesel-fueled vehicle"
regulations, establishes requirements for diesel-fueled school
buses GVWR over 14,000 pounds; requires owners to retire
school buses manufactured before April 1, 1977, by January 1,
2012; requires school buses if not retired to have particulate
filters installed on 33% of their fleet by January 1, 2012,
66% of their fleet by January 1, 2013, and the entire fleet by
January 1, 2014; and provides a low-use vehicle exemption for
buses operated fewer than 1,000 miles per year
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : The author contends that his bill seeks to provide
relief to non-profit churches and religious organizations
throughout the state that find themselves unable to comply with
the current ARB school bus diesel emission retrofit requirement
due to the lack of church funds. These churches and religious
organizations are driving their buses above the current 1,000
mile exemption and are in violation of the regulatory
requirements. Accordingly, his bill seeks to have the current
1,000 mile per year exemption increased to 5,000 miles per year
so that the church buses can continue to operate, transporting
children to church services and activities.
This bill would express the intent of the Legislature that ARB
establish a definition of "low-use vehicle," specific to
tax-exempt churches and religious organizations, that would
raise the mileage exemption limit from 1,000 miles per year to
5,000 miles per year. Although the normal recourse for these
churches in seeking relief for their situation is generally
through public input into ARB's regulation process, the churches
have sought relief through the legislative means.
Writing in support of this bill, over one hundred individuals
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have indicated the need of the bill and urge ARB to amend their
regulation to increase the mileage exemption for tax-exempt
churches and religious organization, thus allowing them to
continue to use their buses to transport hundreds of children to
church services weekly.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Over 100 individuals
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Ed Imai / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093