BILL REQ. #:  H-1477.1 

Read first time 02/05/09.   Referred to Committee on Ecology & Parks.

     AN ACT Relating to motor vehicle air conditioning equipment; and amending RCW 46.37.470.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.37.470 and 1987 c 330 s 726 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((The term)) "Air conditioning equipment," as used or referred to in this section ((shall)), means mechanical vapor compression refrigeration equipment which is used to cool the driver's or passenger compartment of any motor vehicle.
     (2) Such equipment shall be manufactured, installed, and maintained with due regard for the safety of the occupants of the vehicle and the public and shall not contain any refrigerant which is toxic to persons or which is flammable, unless the refrigerant is included in the list published by the United States environmental protection agency as a safe alternative motor vehicle air conditioning substitute for chlorofluorocarbon-12 under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7671k(c).
     (3) The state patrol may adopt and enforce safety requirements, regulations, and specifications consistent with the requirements of this section applicable to such equipment which shall correlate with and, so far as possible, conform to the current recommended practice or standard applicable to such equipment approved by the society of automotive engineers.
     (4) No person shall have for sale, offer for sale, sell, or equip any motor vehicle with any such equipment unless it complies with the requirements of this section.
     (5) No person shall operate on any highway any motor vehicle equipped with any air conditioning equipment unless said equipment complies with the requirements of this section.