SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 1, 2016) — A California Senate committee has approved legislation to expand the state's program for the retirement and replacement of older passenger vehicles and light and medium-duty trucks.
The legislation (A.B. 1965) to require the state's Air Resources Board (CARB) to expand the vehicle retirement program was approved by the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee and will now be considered by the Environmental Quality Committee, according to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).
The Diamond Bar, Calif.-based trade group is mobilizing its membership in opposition of A.B. 1965 — asking them to immediately contact the California Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
SEMA suggested the following points be stated about A.B. 1965 in messages to legislators:
- It “represents another attempt by California lawmakers to dust off a tired, flawed and ineffective scrappage program using your tax dollars”;
- The bill “ignores the fact that all scrappage programs hold the potential for enthusiasts to lose a valuable source of rare parts for vehicle restoration projects”;
- It is unfair to many of the low-income vehicle owners the bill seeks to target by potentially denying them available parts from older cars in order to maintain their own vehicles;
- The legislation “embraces the fact that most scrapped cars are infrequently or never used second or third vehicles”; and
- The bill “will do little to improve air quality, which is directly connected to overall basic vehicle maintenance.”
A.B. 1965 has already been approved by the full state Assembly, SEMA said, adding that current law provides for “an enhanced fleet modernization program” to be administered by the Bureau of Automotive Repair based on guidelines adopted by CARB.
Beginning in the 2016-17 fiscal year, SEMA said the bill would require the agencies to set specific and measurable goals for the program's expansion.