1     
AIR QUALITY EMISSIONS TESTING AMENDMENTS

2     
2018 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Patrice M. Arent

5     
Senate Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

6     Cosponsors:
7     Joel K. Briscoe
8     Rebecca Chavez-Houck
Rebecca P. Edwards
Edward H. Redd
V. Lowry Snow
Mike Winder

9     

10     LONG TITLE
11     General Description:
12          This bill amends requirements for emissions testing of motor vehicles.
13     Highlighted Provisions:
14          This bill:
15          ▸     amends exemptions to emissions testing;
16          ▸     creates a pilot program requiring certain counties to require emissions inspections
17     for certain diesel-powered motor vehicles;
18          ▸     requires a county participating in the program to present a report;
19          ▸     requires the Division of Air Quality to provide an estimate of pollution emitted
20     based on the failure rate of diesel-powered motor vehicles in the pilot program; and
21          ▸     makes technical changes.
22     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
23          None
24     Other Special Clauses:
25          None
26     Utah Code Sections Affected:
27     AMENDS:

28          41-6a-1642, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2017, Chapters 57, 246, and 406
29     

30     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
31          Section 1. Section 41-6a-1642 is amended to read:
32          41-6a-1642. Emissions inspection -- County program.
33          (1) The legislative body of each county required under federal law to utilize a motor
34     vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program or in which an emissions inspection
35     and maintenance program is necessary to attain or maintain any national ambient air quality
36     standard shall require:
37          (a) a certificate of emissions inspection, a waiver, or other evidence the motor vehicle
38     is exempt from emissions inspection and maintenance program requirements be presented:
39          (i) as a condition of registration or renewal of registration; and
40          (ii) at other times as the county legislative body may require to enforce inspection
41     requirements for individual motor vehicles, except that the county legislative body may not
42     routinely require a certificate of [emission] emissions inspection, or waiver of the certificate,
43     more often than required under Subsection [(7)] (9); and
44          (b) compliance with this section for a motor vehicle registered or principally operated
45     in the county and owned by or being used by a department, division, instrumentality, agency, or
46     employee of:
47          (i) the federal government;
48          (ii) the state and any of its agencies; or
49          (iii) a political subdivision of the state, including school districts.
50          (2) A vehicle owner subject to Subsection (1) shall obtain a motor vehicle emissions
51     inspection and maintenance program certificate of emissions inspection as described in
52     Subsection (1), but the program may not deny vehicle registration based solely on the presence
53     of a defeat device covered in the Volkswagen partial consent decrees or a United States
54     Environmental Protection Agency-approved vehicle modification in the following vehicles:

55          (a) a 2.0-liter diesel engine motor vehicle in which its lifetime nitrogen oxide
56     emissions are mitigated in the state pursuant to a partial consent decree, including:
57          (i) Volkswagen Jetta, model years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015;
58          (ii) Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen, model years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and
59     2014;
60          (iii) Volkswagen Golf, model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015;
61          (iv) Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen, model year 2015;
62          (v) Volkswagen Passat, model years 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015;
63          (vi) Volkswagen Beetle, model years 2013, 2014, and 2015;
64          (vii) Volkswagen Beetle Convertible, model years 2013, 2014, and 2015; and
65          (viii) Audi A3, model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015; and
66          (b) a 3.0-liter diesel engine motor vehicle in which its lifetime nitrogen oxide
67     emissions are mitigated in the state to a settlement, including:
68          (i) Volkswagen Touareg, model years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and
69     2016;
70          (ii) Audi Q7, model years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016;
71          (iii) Audi A6 Quattro, model years 2014, 2015, and 2016;
72          (iv) Audi A7 Quattro, model years 2014, 2015, and 2016;
73          (v) Audi A8, model years 2014, 2015, and 2016;
74          (vi) Audi A8L, model years 2014, 2015, and 2016;
75          (vii) Audi Q5, model years 2014, 2015, and 2016; and
76          (viii) Porsche Cayenne Diesel, model years 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.
77          (3) (a) The legislative body of a county identified in Subsection (1), in consultation
78     with the Air Quality Board created under Section 19-1-106, shall make regulations or
79     ordinances regarding:
80          (i) emissions standards;
81          (ii) test procedures;

82          (iii) inspections stations;
83          (iv) repair requirements and dollar limits for correction of deficiencies; and
84          (v) certificates of emissions inspections.
85          [(b) The regulations or ordinances shall:]
86          (b) In accordance with Subsection (3)(a), a county legislative body:
87          (i) [be made] shall make regulations or ordinances to attain or maintain ambient air
88     quality standards in the county, consistent with the state implementation plan and federal
89     requirements;
90          (ii) may allow for a phase-in of the program by geographical area; and
91          (iii) [be compliant] shall comply with the analyzer design and certification
92     requirements contained in the state implementation plan prepared under Title 19, Chapter 2,
93     Air Conservation Act.
94          (c) The county legislative body and the Air Quality Board shall give preference to an
95     inspection and maintenance program that [is]:
96          (i) is decentralized, to the extent the decentralized program will attain and maintain
97     ambient air quality standards and meet federal requirements;
98          (ii) is the most cost effective means to achieve and maintain the maximum benefit with
99     regard to ambient air quality standards and to meet federal air quality requirements as related to
100     vehicle emissions; and
101          (iii) [providing] provides a reasonable phase-out period for replacement of air pollution
102     emission testing equipment made obsolete by the program.
103          (d) The provisions of Subsection (3)(c)(iii) apply only to the extent the phase-out:
104          (i) may be accomplished in accordance with applicable federal requirements; and
105          (ii) does not otherwise interfere with the attainment and maintenance of ambient air
106     quality standards.
107          (4) The following vehicles are exempt from an emissions inspection program and the
108     provisions of this section:

109          (a) an implement of husbandry as defined in Section 41-1a-102;
110          (b) a motor vehicle that:
111          (i) meets the definition of a farm truck under Section 41-1a-102; and
112          (ii) has a gross vehicle weight rating of 12,001 pounds or more;
113          (c) a vintage vehicle as defined in Section 41-21-1;
114          (d) a custom vehicle as defined in Section 41-6a-1507; [and]
115          (e) to the extent allowed under the current federally approved state implementation
116     plan, in accordance with the federal Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7401, et seq., a motor
117     vehicle that is less than two years old on January 1 based on the age of the vehicle as
118     determined by the model year identified by the manufacturer[.];
119          [(5) (a) The legislative body of a county identified in Subsection (1) shall exempt]
120          (f) a pickup truck, as defined in Section 41-1a-102, with a gross vehicle weight rating
121     of 12,000 pounds or less [from the emission inspection requirements of this section], if the
122     registered owner of the pickup truck provides a signed statement to the legislative body stating
123     the truck is used:
124          (i) by the owner or operator of a farm located on property that qualifies as land in
125     agricultural use under Sections 59-2-502 and 59-2-503; and
126          (ii) exclusively for the following purposes in operating the farm:
127          (A) for the transportation of farm products, including livestock and its products,
128     poultry and its products, floricultural and horticultural products; and
129          (B) in the transportation of farm supplies, including tile, fence, and every other thing or
130     commodity used in agricultural, floricultural, horticultural, livestock, and poultry production
131     and maintenance[.];
132          (g) a motorcycle as defined in Section 41-1a-102;
133          (h) a motor vehicle powered solely by electric power; and
134          (i) a motor vehicle with a model year of 1967 or older.
135          [(b)] (5) The county shall [provide] issue to the registered owner who signs and

136     submits a signed statement under [this section] Subsection (4)(f) a certificate of exemption
137     from [emission] emissions inspection requirements for purposes of registering the exempt
138     vehicle.
139          (6) A legislative body of a county described in Subsection (1) may exempt from an
140     emissions inspection program a diesel-powered motor vehicle with a:
141          (a) gross vehicle weight rating of more than 14,000 pounds; or
142          (b) model year of 1997 or older.
143          (7) (a) The legislative body of a county described in Subsection (1) that does not
144     require an emissions inspection for diesel-powered motor vehicles as of December 31, 2017,
145     shall implement a three-year pilot program as described in Subsection (7)(b).
146          (b) Beginning on January 1, 2019, and ending on December 31, 2021, the legislative
147     body of a county described in Subsection (7)(a) shall require:
148          (i) a computerized emissions inspection for a diesel-powered motor vehicle that has:
149          (A) a model year of 2007 or newer;
150          (B) a gross vehicle weight rating of 14,000 pounds or less; and
151          (C) a model year that is five years old or older; and
152          (ii) a visual inspection of emissions equipment for a diesel-powered motor vehicle:
153          (A) with a gross vehicle weight rating of 14,000 pounds or less;
154          (B) that has a model year of 1997 or newer; and
155          (C) that has a model year that is five years old or older.
156          (c) (i) The legislative body of a county that participates in the pilot program described
157     in this Subsection (7) shall prepare a report including:
158          (A) the total number of diesel-powered vehicles inspected as part of the pilot program
159     using computerized technology;
160          (B) the passage and failure rates of the diesel-powered motor vehicles inspected as part
161     of the pilot program using computerized technology, shown by model year;
162          (C) the total number of diesel-powered vehicles visually inspected as part of the pilot

163     program;
164          (D) the passage and failure rates of the diesel-powered motor vehicles visually
165     inspected as part of the pilot program, shown by model year;
166          (E) the total number of diesel-powered vehicles visually inspected as part of the pilot
167     program where tampering with emissions equipment was found, shown by model year; and
168          (F) any other information the executive body or individual considers relevant.
169          (ii) The legislative body of a county that participates in the pilot program described in
170     this Subsection (7) shall present the report described in Subsection (7)(c)(i) to the Natural
171     Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee:
172          (A) one time after January 1, 2020, but before August 31, 2020; and
173          (B) one time after January 1, 2021, but before August 31, 2021.
174          (d) After each report described in Subsection (7)(c), the Division of Air Quality created
175     in Section 19-1-105 shall provide to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment
176     Interim Committee and the legislative body of a county participating in the pilot program an
177     estimate of the tons of pollution emitted due to the failure rate of the diesel-powered motor
178     vehicles in the pilot program.
179          [(6)] (8) (a) Subject to Subsection [(6)] (8)(c), the legislative body of each county
180     required under federal law to utilize a motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance
181     program or in which an emissions inspection and maintenance program is necessary to attain or
182     maintain any national ambient air quality standard may require each college or university
183     located in a county subject to this section to require its students and employees who park a
184     motor vehicle not registered in a county subject to this section to provide proof of compliance
185     with an emissions inspection accepted by the county legislative body if the motor vehicle is
186     parked on the college or university campus or property.
187          (b) College or university parking areas that are metered or for which payment is
188     required per use are not subject to the requirements of this Subsection [(6)] (8).
189          (c) The legislative body of a county shall make the reasons for implementing the

190     provisions of this Subsection [(6)] (8) part of the record at the time that the county legislative
191     body takes its official action to implement the provisions of this Subsection [(6)] (8).
192          [(7)] (9) (a) An emissions inspection station shall issue a certificate of emissions
193     inspection for each motor vehicle that meets the inspection and maintenance program
194     requirements established in rules made under Subsection (3).
195          (b) The frequency of the emissions inspection shall be determined based on the age of
196     the vehicle as determined by model year and shall be required annually subject to the
197     provisions of Subsection [(7)] (9)(c).
198          (c) (i) To the extent allowed under the current federally approved state implementation
199     plan, in accordance with the federal Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7401 et seq., the legislative
200     body of a county identified in Subsection (1) shall only require the emissions inspection every
201     two years for each vehicle.
202          (ii) The provisions of Subsection [(7)] (9)(c)(i) apply only to a vehicle that is less than
203     six years old on January 1.
204          (iii) For a county required to implement a new vehicle emissions inspection and
205     maintenance program on or after December 1, 2012, under Subsection (1), but for which no
206     current federally approved state implementation plan exists, a vehicle shall be tested at a
207     frequency determined by the county legislative body, in consultation with the Air Quality
208     Board created under Section 19-1-106, that is necessary to comply with federal law or attain or
209     maintain any national ambient air quality standard.
210          (iv) If a county legislative body establishes or changes the frequency of a vehicle
211     emissions inspection and maintenance program under Subsection [(7)] (9)(c)(iii), the
212     establishment or change shall take effect on January 1 if the State Tax Commission receives
213     notice meeting the requirements of Subsection [(7)] (9)(c)(v) from the county before October 1.
214          (v) The notice described in Subsection [(7)] (9)(c)(iv) shall:
215          (A) state that the county will establish or change the frequency of the vehicle emissions
216     inspection and maintenance program under this section;

217          (B) include a copy of the ordinance establishing or changing the frequency; and
218          (C) if the county establishes or changes the frequency under this section, state how
219     frequently the emissions testing will be required.
220          (d) If an emissions inspection is only required every two years for a vehicle under
221     Subsection [(7)](9)(c), the inspection shall be required for the vehicle in:
222          (i) odd-numbered years for vehicles with odd-numbered model years; or
223          (ii) in even-numbered years for vehicles with even-numbered model years.
224          [(8)] (10) (a) Except as provided in Subsections [(7)] (9)(b), (c), and (d), the emissions
225     inspection required under this section may be made no more than two months before the
226     renewal of registration.
227          (b) (i) If the title of a used motor vehicle is being transferred, the owner may use an
228     emissions inspection certificate issued for the motor vehicle during the previous 11 months to
229     satisfy the requirement under this section.
230          (ii) If the transferor is a licensed and bonded used motor vehicle dealer, the owner may
231     use an emissions inspection certificate issued for the motor vehicle in a licensed and bonded
232     motor vehicle dealer's name during the previous 11 months to satisfy the requirement under
233     this section.
234          (c) If the title of a leased vehicle is being transferred to the lessee of the vehicle, the
235     lessee may use an emissions inspection certificate issued during the previous 11 months to
236     satisfy the requirement under this section.
237          (d) If the motor vehicle is part of a fleet of 101 or more vehicles, the owner may not
238     use an emissions inspection made more than 11 months before the renewal of registration to
239     satisfy the requirement under this section.
240          (e) If the application for renewal of registration is for a six-month registration period
241     under Section 41-1a-215.5, the owner may use an emissions inspection certificate issued during
242     the previous eight months to satisfy the requirement under this section.
243          [(9)] (11) (a) A county identified in Subsection (1) shall collect information about and

244     monitor the program.
245          (b) A county identified in Subsection (1) shall supply this information to an appropriate
246     legislative committee, as designated by the Legislative Management Committee, at times
247     determined by the designated committee to identify program needs, including funding needs.
248          [(10)] (12) If approved by the county legislative body, a county that had an established
249     emissions inspection fee as of January 1, 2002, may increase the established fee that an
250     emissions inspection station may charge by $2.50 for each year that is exempted from
251     emissions inspections under Subsection [(7)] (9)(c) up to a $7.50 increase.
252          [(11)] (13) (a) A county identified in Subsection (1) may impose a local emissions
253     compliance fee on each motor vehicle registration within the county in accordance with the
254     procedures and requirements of Section 41-1a-1223.
255          (b) A county that imposes a local emissions compliance fee may use revenues
256     generated from the fee for the establishment and enforcement of an emissions inspection and
257     maintenance program in accordance with the requirements of this section.
258          (c) A county that imposes a local emissions compliance fee may use revenues
259     generated from the fee to promote programs to maintain a local, state, or national ambient air
260     quality standard.