BILL REQ. #:  H-0079.3 

Read first time 01/13/11.   Referred to Committee on Environment.

     AN ACT Relating to refrigerants for motor vehicles; and amending RCW 46.37.470.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 46.37.470 and 2009 c 256 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) "Air conditioning equipment," as used or referred to in this section, means mechanical vapor compression refrigeration equipment ((which)) that is used to cool the driver's or passenger compartment of any motor vehicle.
     (2) ((Such)) Air conditioning equipment ((shall)) must be manufactured, installed, and maintained with due regard for the safety of the occupants of the vehicle and the public ((and shall)). Air conditioning equipment may not contain any refrigerant ((which)) that is toxic to persons or ((which)) that is flammable, unless the refrigerant is ((included in the list published by the United States environmental protection agency, as it exists on July 26, 2009, as a safe alternative motor vehicle air conditioning substitute for chlorofluorocarbon-12 under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7671k(c))) allowed under the department of ecology's motor vehicle emission standards adopted under RCW 70.120A.010.
     (3) The state patrol may ((adopt and)) enforce safety requirements, regulations, and specifications consistent with the requirements of this section applicable to ((such)) air conditioning equipment which ((shall)) must correlate with and, so far as possible, conform to the current recommended practice or standard applicable to ((such)) air conditioning equipment approved by the society of automotive engineers.
     (4) ((No)) A person ((shall)) may not have for sale, offer for sale, sell, or equip any motor vehicle with any ((such)) air conditioning equipment unless it complies with the requirements of this section.
     (5) ((No)) A person ((shall)) may not operate on any highway any motor vehicle equipped with any air conditioning equipment unless ((said)) the equipment complies with the requirements of this section.