SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 19, 2016) — The California Senate Environmental Quality Committee did not approve legislation to require the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to expand the state's program for the retirement and replacement of older passenger vehicles and light- and medium-duty trucks.
According to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), which opposed the legislation, the bill had previously been approved by the Senate Transportation Committee and full Assembly.
Current law provides for “an enhanced fleet modernization program” to be administered by the state's Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) based on guidelines adopted by the CARB, SEMA said. Beginning in the 2016–'17 fiscal year, the bill would have required the agencies to set specific and measurable goals for the program's expansion.
While the bill was granted “reconsideration” by the committee, SEMA said it is unlikely to re-emerge and is essentially dead for the year.