Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several bills before the Oct. 14 deadline.
The California Autobody Association (CAA) released its legislative and regulatory update on proposed bills for October. CAA will continue to review, monitor and report.
Bureau of Automotive Repair
AB 1263: This 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. High priority.
Status: Signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Catalytic Converter Theft
AB 641: Makes it a misdemeanor for someone to possess nine or more used catalytic converters that have been cut from a vehicle unless they are a licensed dismantler.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Signed by Newsom.
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 three or more catalytic converters that have been so altered.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Signed by Newsom.
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: Signed by Newsom.
Career Technical Educational
AB 377: Increases Career Technical Education funding from $300 million each year to $450 million.
CAA position: Support.
Status: Held in Senate Appropriations Committee. Two-year bill.
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. Two-year bill.
AB 524: Adds caregiver status as a protected class under the Fair Employment and Housing Act.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Vetoed. AB
1100: Establishes the 32-hour workweek pilot program.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Assembly. Two-year bill.
SB 365: Prohibits automatic staying of civil legal proceedings during the pendency of denial or dismissal of a petition to compel arbitration.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Signed by Newsom.
SB 399: Enacts the California Worker Freedom from Employer Intimidation Act.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee. Two-year bill.
SB 616: Modifies employer sick leave and requires an employee have no less than 40 hours of accrued sick leave.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Signed by Newsom.
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: Senate. Two-year bill.
SB 799: Allows employees involved in a trade dispute to collect unemployment insurance benefits.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Vetoed.
Hazardous Waste
AB 407: This bill clarifies how material that is exempted from hazardous waste regulation as a used oil under state law can be managed.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Vetoed.
AB 493: Relates to the California Oil Recycling Enhancement Act.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Two-year bill.
AB 1614: Requires California Energy Commission to conduct a study on how to phase out the existence of gas fueling stations.
CAA position: Concerns.
Status: Vetoed.
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: Signed by Newsom.
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 up to $4,000 for a vehicle that has been converted to a zero-emission vehicle.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Two-year bill.
Other Bills of Interest
AB 473: Modifies several laws governing relationships between new motor vehicle manufactures and franchisees that operate car dealerships.
CAA position: Watch.
Status: Signed by Newsom.
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.
Status: Vetoed.
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: Senate. Two-year bill.
Abby Andrews