BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 642
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 17, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
SB 642 (Padilla) - As Amended: July 13, 2011
Policy Committee: JudiciaryVote:8-2
Transportation 10-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill:
1)Prohibits the waiver, whether by coercion or voluntarily, of a
dealer's right to protest actions, such as termination of
franchise, to the New Motor Vehicle Board (NMVB).
2)Allows temporary manufacturer-ownership of an auto dealership
only under limited circumstances and prohibits a manufacturer
from taking certain actions preferable to a manufacturer-owned
dealership.
3)Prohibits manufacturers from discriminating against franchised
dealers for selling certain products and services not approved
by the manufacturer.
FISCAL EFFECT
Minor, absorbable costs to the Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV), which administers the NMVB a quasi-judicial program to
resolve disputes between franchised dealers and manufacturers
and distributors of new motor vehicles, including automobiles,
recreational vehicles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, heavy
trucks and buses.
COMMENTS
Rationale . The author intends this bill to prevent a dealer
franchise owner from being coerced by manufacturers into
negotiating away their right to appeal disputes to the NMVB and
to prevent manufacturers from engaging in practices that
SB 642
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unfairly discriminate against franchise dealers.
Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081