BP BHEAD INT H [Atlas:Generic]

AN ACT Relating to air pollution control; amending RCW 70.94.130, 70.120.070, 70.120.100, 70.120.170, and 46.16.015; and adding a new section to chapter 70.120 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 70.94.130 and 1991 c 199 s 705 are each amended to read as follows:

The board shall exercise all powers of the authority except as otherwise provided. The board shall conduct its first meeting within thirty days after all of its members have been appointed or designated as provided in RCW 70.94.100. The board shall meet at least ten times per year. All meetings shall be publicly announced prior to their occurrence. All meetings shall be open to the public. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and shall be necessary for any action taken by the board. The board shall elect from its members a chair and such other officers as may be necessary. ((~~Any member of the board may designate a regular alternate to serve on the board in his or her place with the same authority as the member when he or she is unable to attend.~~)) Each member of the board, or his or her representative, shall receive from the authority compensation consistent with such authority's rates (but not to exceed one thousand dollars per year) for time spent in the performance of duties under this chapter, plus the actual and necessary expenses incurred by the member in such performance. The board may appoint a control officer, and any other personnel, and shall determine their salaries, and pay same, together with any other proper indebtedness, from authority funds.

Sec. 2. RCW 70.120.070 and 1991 c 199 s 203 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Any person:

(a) Whose motor vehicle is tested pursuant to this chapter and fails to comply with the emission standards established for the vehicle; and

(b) Who, following such a test, expends more than one hundred dollars on a 1980 or earlier model year motor vehicle or expends more than one hundred fifty dollars on a 1981 or later model year motor vehicle for repairs solely devoted to meeting the emission standards and that are performed by a certified emission specialist authorized by RCW 70.120.020(2)(a); and

(c) Whose vehicle fails a retest, may be issued a certificate of acceptance if (i) the vehicle has been in use for more than five years or fifty thousand miles, and (ii) any component of the vehicle installed by the manufacturer for the purpose of reducing emissions, or its appropriate replacement, is installed and operative.

To receive the certificate, the person must document compliance with (b) and (c) of this subsection to the satisfaction of the department.

Should any provision of (b) of this subsection be disapproved by the administrator of the United States environmental protection agency, all vehicles shall be required to expend at least four hundred fifty dollars to qualify for a certificate of acceptance.

(2) Persons who fail the initial tests shall be provided with:

(a) Information regarding the availability of federal warranties and certified emission specialists;

(b) Information on the availability and procedure for acquiring a thirty-day extension of vehicle license tabs;

(d) Information on the availability and procedure for receiving a certificate of acceptance; and

(e) Information about the department's local vehicle specialist, including the local phone number and address.

Sec. 3. RCW 70.120.100 and 1979 ex.s. c 163 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:

The department shall investigate complaints received regarding the operation of emission testing stations and shall require corrections or modifications in those operations when deemed necessary.

The department shall also review complaints received regarding the maintenance or repairs secured by owners of motor vehicles for the purpose of complying with the requirements of this chapter. When possible, the department shall assist such owners in determining the merits of the complaints.

The department shall immediately forward a copy of all complaints received, along with a summary of action taken and final outcome to all legislators in whose district the complaint was initiated.

Sec. 4. RCW 70.120.170 and 1991 c 199 s 208 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall administer a system for emission inspections of all motor vehicles registered within the boundaries of each emission contributing area. Under such system a motor vehicle shall be inspected biennially except where an annual program would be required to meet federal law and prevent federal sanctions. In addition, motor vehicles shall be inspected ((~~at each change of registered owner of a licensed vehicle~~)) in accordance with RCW 46.16.015.

(2) The director shall:

(a) Adopt procedures for conducting emission inspections of motor vehicles. The inspections may include idle and high revolution per minute emission tests. The emission test for diesel vehicles shall consist solely of a smoke opacity test.

(b) Adopt criteria for calibrating emission testing equipment. Electronic equipment used to test for emissions standards provided for in this chapter shall be properly calibrated. The department shall examine frequently the calibration of the emission testing equipment used at the stations.

(c) Authorize, through contracts, the establishment and operation of inspection stations for conducting vehicle emission inspections authorized in this chapter. No person contracted to inspect motor vehicles may perform for compensation repairs on any vehicles. No public body may establish or operate contracted inspection stations. Any contracts must be let in accordance with the procedures established for competitive bids in chapter 43.19 RCW.

(3) Subsection (2)(c) of this section does not apply to volunteer motor vehicle inspections under RCW 70.120.020(1) if the inspections are conducted for the following purposes:

(a) Auditing;

(b) Contractor evaluation;

(d) Public information and education.

(4)(a) The director shall establish by rule the fee to be charged for emission inspections. The inspection fee shall be a standard fee applicable state-wide or throughout an emission contributing area and shall be no greater than ((~~eighteen~~)) twelve dollars, except as provided in (c) of this subsection. Surplus moneys collected from fees over the amount due the contractor shall be paid to the state and deposited in the general fund. Fees shall be set at the minimum whole dollar amount required to (i) compensate the contractor or inspection facility owner, and (ii) offset the general fund appropriation to the department to cover the administrative costs of the motor vehicle emission inspection program.

(b) Before each inspection, a person whose motor vehicle is to be inspected shall pay to the inspection station the fee established under this section. The person whose motor vehicle is inspected shall receive the results of the inspection. If the inspected vehicle complies with the standards established by the director, the person shall receive a dated certificate of compliance. If the inspected vehicle does not comply with those standards, one reinspection of the vehicle shall be afforded without charge.

(c) If an emission contributing area was established before June 30, 1997, the fee in any portion of the contributing area that was added after June 30, 1997, may be no greater than five dollars unless specific legislative authorization has been granted for a larger fee.

(5) All units of local government and agencies of the state with motor vehicles garaged or regularly operated in an emissions contributing area shall test the emissions of those vehicles annually to ensure that the vehicle's emissions comply with the emission standards established by the director. All state agencies outside of emission contributing areas with more than twenty motor vehicles housed at a single facility or contiguous facilities shall test the emissions of those vehicles annually to ensure that the vehicles' emissions comply with standards established by the director. A report of the results of the tests shall be submitted to the department.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 70.120 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall establish a scientific advisory board to review plans to create or expand an inspection and maintenance system for motor vehicle emissions. The board shall consist of three to five members. All members shall have at least a master's degree in physics, chemistry, or engineering, or a closely related field. No member may be a current employee of a local air pollution control authority, the department, the United States environmental protection agency, or a company that may benefit from a review by the board.

The board shall review an inspection and maintenance plan at the request of a local air pollution control authority, the department, or by a petition of at least fifty people living within the proposed boundaries of a vehicle emission inspection and maintenance system. The entity or entities requesting a scientific review may include specific issues for the board to consider in its review. The board shall limit its review to matters of science and shall not provide advice on penalties or issues that are strictly legal in nature.

The board shall provide a complete written review to the department. If the board members are not in agreement as to the scientific merit of any issue under review, the board may include a dissenting opinion in its report to the department. The department shall immediately make copies available to the local air pollution control authority and to the public.

The department shall conduct a public hearing, within the area affected by the proposed rule, if any significant aspect of the rule is in conflict with a majority opinion of the board. The department shall include in its responsiveness summary the rationale for including a rule that is not consistent with the review of the board, including a response to the issues raised at the public hearing.

Members shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

Sec. 6. RCW 46.16.015 and 1991 c 199 s 209 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Neither the department of licensing nor its agents may issue or renew a motor vehicle license for any vehicle or change the registered owner of a licensed vehicle, for any vehicle that is required to be inspected under chapter 70.120 RCW, unless the application for issuance or renewal is: (a) Accompanied by a valid certificate of compliance or a valid certificate of acceptance issued pursuant to chapter 70.120 RCW; or (b) exempted from this requirement pursuant to subsection (2) of this section. The certificates must have a date of validation which is within six months of the date of application for the vehicle license or license renewal. Certificates for fleet or owner tested diesel vehicles may have a date of validation which is within twelve months of the assigned license renewal date.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to the following vehicles:

(a) New motor vehicles whose equitable or legal title has never been transferred to a person who in good faith purchases the vehicle for purposes other than resale;

(b) Motor vehicles with a model year of ((~~1967~~)) 1975 or earlier, except that vehicles whose model year is three years old or newer are exempt;

(d) Motor vehicles fueled by propane, compressed natural gas, or liquid petroleum gas, unless it is determined that federal sanctions will be imposed as a result of this exemption;

(e) Motorcycles as defined in RCW 46.04.330 and motor-driven cycles as defined in RCW 46.04.332;

(f) Farm vehicles as defined in RCW 46.04.181;

(g) Used vehicles which are offered for sale by a motor vehicle dealer licensed under chapter 46.70 RCW; or

(h) Motor vehicles exempted by the director of the department of ecology.

The provisions of subparagraph (a) of this subsection may not be construed as exempting from the provisions of subsection (1) of this section applications for the renewal of licenses for motor vehicles that are or have been leased.

(3) The department of ecology shall provide information to motor vehicle owners regarding the boundaries of emission contributing areas and restrictions established under this section that apply to vehicles registered in such areas. In addition the department of ecology shall provide information to motor vehicle owners on the relationship between motor vehicles and air pollution and steps motor vehicle owners should take to reduce motor vehicle related air pollution. The department of licensing shall send to all registered motor vehicle owners affected by the emission testing program notice that they must have an emission test to renew their registration.