CAA Watching Several CA Bills as Legislature Returns

CAA Watching Several CA Bills as Legislature Returns

The California Legislature has returned from summer recess and the California Autobody Association (CAA) anticipates a surge of legislative activity in the coming weeks. CAA has been following these legislative bills, and will continue to monitor and report.

Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR)

AB 1263: The bill, among other things, would maintain the continuation of the BAR Advisory Committee; require employees, such as service writers, who are involved in a BAR violation to attend remedial training; require a salvage rebuilder selling a revived salvage vehicle to provide a consumer with a safety systems certificate and require upcoming BAR towing and storage regulations to reference the civil and vehicle codes and insurance code regulations.
CAA position: Support.
Status: Senate.

Catalytic Converter Theft

AB 641: Makes it a misdemeanor for someone to possess six or more used catalytic converters that have been cut from a vehicle unless they are a licensed dismantler.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Senate.

AB 1519: Makes it a misdemeanor to remove, alter or obfuscate any VIN engraved, etched or otherwise marked on a catalytic converter, or from possessing 3 or more catalytic converters that have been so altered.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Senate.

SB 55: Prohibits a motor vehicle dealer from selling a vehicle equipped with a catalytic converter unless the converter has been permanently marked with the VIN, the vehicle is sold for dismantling or salvage, the vehicle is sold at a wholesale auction or a buyer declines the marking offered by the dealer.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Assembly.

Career Technical Education

AB 377: Increases CTE funding from $300 million each year to $450 million.
CAA position: Support.
Status: Senate.

Employment

AB 518: Expands the definition of “family member” for purposes of the Paid Family Leave Program to allow workers to take time off to care for a seriously ill designated person.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Senate.

AB 524: Adds caregiver status as a protected class under Fair Employment and Housing Act.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Senate.

AB 1100: Establishes the 32-hour workweek pilot program.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Two-year bill.

SB 616: Modifies employer sick leave and requires an employee have no less than 56 hours of accrued sick leave.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Assembly.

SB 703: Permits a nonexempt employee to request a flexible work schedule providing up to 10 hours per day within a 40-hour workweek without obligation to pay overtime.
CAA position: Support.
Status: Failed passage in committee.

Hazardous Waste

AB 407: Deletes the criterion that used oil not be subject to regulation as used oil under federal law.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Senate.

AB 493: Relates to the California Oil Recycling Enhancement Act.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Two-year bill.

AB 1614: Requires state water resources to conduct a study on how to phase out the existence of gas fueling stations.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Senate.

AB 1716: Make various technical changes to the six unified hazardous waste and materials management regulatory program overseen by the Certified United Programs Agencies (CUPAs).
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Senate.

Vehicle Batteries

AB 1579: Requires the state, beginning in 2035, to establish a bid specification for the acquisition of motor vehicles and determining the lowest bidder to consider whether the vehicle is equipped with lithium-ion batteries produced with the least environmental impact.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Two-year bill.


SB 615: Requires an automotive repair dealer that removes a battery from a vehicle still in service to participate in a core exchange program established by the battery supplier and be responsible for either returning a removed battery to the battery supplier or sending it to a qualified facility.  
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Two-year bill.

Zero Emissions Aftermarket

SB 301: Requires CARB to establish the Zero Emissions Aftermarket project to provide an applicant with a rebate for a vehicle converted to a zero-emission vehicle.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Assembly.

Other Bills of Interest

AB 473: New Motor Vehicle Board. Modifies several laws governing relationships between new motor vehicle manufactures and franchisees that operate car dealerships.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Senate.

AB 1609: Imposes an additional annual $4 charge on motor vehicles to provide funding for air quality management districts to reduce air pollution.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Two-year bill.

SB 12: Requires CARB to ensure statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by at least 55% below 1990 levels by Dec. 31, 2030.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Two-year bill.

SB 429: Establishes vehicle inspection requirements for vehicles used on a transportation network company platform such as Uber and Lyft.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Assembly.

SB 670: Requires CARB to develop a methodology for assessing and spatially representing vehicle miles traveled and to develop maps to display average vehicle miles traveled per capita in the state.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Two-year bill.

Shop & Product Showcase

  • Read testimonials from real collision repair shops about the tools and technologies they use to get the job done.