BILL REQ. #:  S-1627.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/17/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to vehicle emission standards; amending RCW 70.94.017, and 70.120.170; amending 2003 c 264 s 9 (uncodified); adding a new section to chapter 46.16 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 70.120.200; repealing 1991 c 199 s 229 (uncodified); providing an effective date; providing expiration dates; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) Motor vehicles are the largest source of air pollution in the state of Washington, and motor vehicles contribute approximately fifty-seven percent of criteria air pollutant emissions, eighty percent of air toxics emissions, and fifty-five percent of greenhouse gas emissions;
     (2) Air pollution levels routinely measured in the state of Washington continue to harm public health, the environment, and the economy. Air pollution causes or contributes to premature death, cancer, asthma, and heart and lung disease. Over half of the state's population suffers from one or more medical conditions that make them very vulnerable to air pollution. Air pollution increases pain and suffering for vulnerable individuals. Air pollution imposes several hundred million dollars annually in added health care costs for air pollution-associated death and illness, reducing the quality of life and economic security of the citizens of Washington;
     (3) Reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources are necessary, and it is equitable to seek such reductions because reductions in greenhouse gas emissions have already been initiated in other sectors such as power generation;
     (4) Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions made under this act should be credited toward any future federal, state, or regional comprehensive regulatory structure enacted to address reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
     (5) Under the federal clean air act, the state of Washington has the option to implement either federal motor vehicle emission standards or California motor vehicle emission standards for passenger cars, light duty trucks, and medium duty passenger vehicles;
     (6) Opting into the California motor vehicle standards will provide significant and necessary air quality benefits to residents of the state of Washington; and
     (7) Adoption of the California motor vehicle standards will increase consumer choices of cleaner vehicles, provide better warranties to consumers, and provide sufficient air quality benefit to allow additional business and economic growth in the key airsheds of the state while maintaining conformance with federal air quality standards.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) Pursuant to the federal clean air act, the legislature adopts the California motor vehicle emission standards in Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations, effective January 1, 2005. By December 31, 2005, the department of ecology shall adopt rules to implement the emission standards of the state of California for passenger cars, light duty trucks, and medium duty passenger vehicles, and shall amend the rules from time to time, to maintain consistency with the California motor vehicle emission standards and 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7507 (section 177 of the federal clean air act). Rules shall be applicable to motor vehicles with a model year 2009 and later. This section does not limit the department of ecology's authority to regulate motor vehicle emissions for any other class of vehicle.
     (2) Motor vehicles with a model year equal to or later than the first model year for which new vehicles sold to Washington state residents are required to comply with California motor vehicle emission standards are exempt from emission inspections under chapter 70.120 RCW.

Sec. 3   RCW 70.94.017 and 2003 c 264 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Money deposited in the segregated subaccount of the air pollution control account under RCW 46.68.020(2) shall be distributed as follows:
     (a) Eighty-five percent shall be distributed to air pollution control authorities created under this chapter. The money must be distributed in direct proportion with the amount of fees imposed under RCW 46.12.080, 46.12.170, and 46.12.181 that are collected within the boundaries of each authority. However, an amount in direct proportion with those fees collected in counties for which no air pollution control authority exists must be distributed to the department.
     (b) The remaining fifteen percent shall be distributed to the department.
     (2) Money distributed to air pollution control authorities and the department under subsection (1) of this section must be used as follows:
     (a) Eighty-five percent of the money received by an air pollution control authority or the department ((must be used)) is available on a priority basis to retrofit school buses with exhaust emission control devices or to provide funding for fueling infrastructure necessary to allow school bus fleets to use alternative, cleaner fuels. In addition, the director of ecology or the air pollution control officer may direct funding under this section for other publicly owned diesel equipment if the director of ecology or the air pollution control officer finds that funding for other publicly owned diesel equipment will provide public health benefits and further the purposes of this chapter.
     (b) The remaining fifteen percent may be used by the air pollution control authority or department to reduce ((vehicle)) transportation-related air contaminant emissions and clean up air pollution, or reduce and monitor toxic air contaminants.
     (3) Money in the air pollution control account may be spent by the department only after appropriation.
     (4) ((The department shall provide a report to the legislative transportation committees on the progress of the implementation of this section by December 31, 2004)) This section expires July 1, 2020.

Sec. 4   RCW 70.120.170 and 1998 c 342 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall administer a system for emission inspections of all motor vehicles, except those described in RCW 46.16.015(2), that are 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 as provided under 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)) comply with the procedures established for competitive bids in chapter 43.19 RCW.
     (d) Beginning in 2012, authorize businesses other than those contracted to operate inspection stations under (c) of this subsection to conduct vehicle emission inspections. Businesses authorized under this subsection may also inspect and perform, for compensation, repairs on vehicles. The fee limitations under subsection (4) of this section do not apply to the fee charged for a vehicle emissions inspection by a business authorized to conduct vehicle emission inspections under this subsection. The director may establish by rule a fee to be paid to the department for the oversight costs for each vehicle emission inspection performed by a business authorized under this subsection (2)(d).
     (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;
     (c) Collection of data for establishing calibration and performance standards; or
     (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 statewide or throughout an emission contributing area and shall be no greater than fifteen dollars. 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.
     (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.
     (6) This section expires January 1, 2020.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 46.16 RCW to read as follows:
     After adoption of rules specified in section 2 of this act, no vehicle shall be registered, leased, rented, or sold for use in the state for model year 2009 or later unless the vehicle: (1) Is consistent with the vehicle emission standards adopted by the department of ecology; or (2) has seven thousand five hundred miles or more. The department of licensing, in consultation with the department of ecology, may adopt rules necessary to implement this section and may provide for reasonable exemptions to these requirements.

Sec. 6   2003 c 264 s 9 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:
     Section((s 1 and)) 3 of this act expires July 1, ((2008)) 2020.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   RCW 70.120.200 (Engine conformance) and 1991 c 199 s 211 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   1991 c 199 s 229 (uncodified) is repealed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   Section 2 of this act constitutes a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   Sections 3, 4, and 6 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect July 1, 2005.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 11   Sections 1, 2, 5, and 7 through 9 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect immediately.