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SB-202 Automotive repair.(2013-2014)

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2013–2014 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill
No. 202


Introduced by Senator Galgiani

February 07, 2013


An act to amend Section 9880.1 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to automotive repair.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 202, as introduced, Galgiani. Automotive repair.
(1) Existing law, the Automotive Repair Act, establishes the Bureau of Automotive Repair under the supervision and control of the Director of Consumer Affairs. A violation of the act is a crime. Existing law provides for the registration and regulation of automotive repair dealers and makes it unlawful for any person to be an automotive repair dealer unless registered with the bureau. Existing law defines an automotive repair dealer and an automotive technician as persons who, among other things, repair motor vehicles. Existing law defines the repair of motor vehicles to mean all maintenance of and repairs to motor vehicles, as specified, and excludes from the definition, among other things, repairing tires, changing tires, lubricating vehicles, installing light bulbs, batteries, windshield wiper blades, and other minor services. Existing law defines an automotive technician as an employee of an automotive repair dealer or that dealer, if the employer or dealer repairs motor vehicles, and who for salary or wage performs specified work on a motor vehicle, but excludes, among other things, repairing tires, changing tires, lubricating vehicles, installing light bulbs, batteries, windshield wiper blades, and other minor accessories.
This bill would delete repairing and changing tires from those exclusion lists. The bill would additionally exclude tire services provided by or on behalf of a motor club holding a specified certificate of authority or an operator of a tow truck owned or operated by a person or entity possessing a valid motor carrier permit from the definitions of “repair of motor vehicles” and “automotive technician.” Because the failure of a person repairing and changing tires to register as an automotive repair dealer with the bureau would constitute a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated program.
(2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 9880.1 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

9880.1.
 The following definitions apply for the purposes of this chapter:
(a) “Automotive repair dealer” means a person who, for compensation, engages in the business of repairing or diagnosing malfunctions of motor vehicles.
(b) “Chief” means the Chief of the Bureau of Automotive Repair.
(c) “Bureau” means the Bureau of Automotive Repair.
(d) “Motor vehicle” means a passenger vehicle required to be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles and all motorcycles whether or not required to be registered by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
(e) “Repair of motor vehicles” means all maintenance of and repairs to motor vehicles performed by an automotive repair dealer including automotive body repair work, but excluding those repairs made pursuant to a commercial business agreement and also excluding repairing tires, changing tires, lubricating vehicles, installing light bulbs, batteries, windshield wiper blades, and other minor accessories, cleaning, adjusting, and replacing spark plugs, replacing fan belts, oil, and air filters, providing tire services by or on behalf of a motor club holding a certificate of authority issued pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 12160) of Part 5 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code or by an operator of a tow truck, as defined in Section 615 of the Vehicle Code, owned or operated by a person or entity possessing a valid motor carrier permit, as described in Section 34620 of the Vehicle Code, and other minor services, which the director, by regulation, determines are customarily performed by gasoline service stations.
No service shall be designated as minor, for purposes of this section, if the director finds that performance of the service requires mechanical expertise, has given rise to a high incidence of fraud or deceptive practices, or involves a part of the vehicle essential to its safe operation.
(f) “Person” includes firm, partnership, association, limited liability company, or corporation.
(g) An “automotive technician” is an employee of an automotive repair dealer or is that dealer, if the employer or dealer repairs motor vehicles, and who for salary or wage performs maintenance, diagnostics, repair, removal, or installation of any integral component parts of an engine, driveline, chassis or body of any vehicle, but excluding repairing tires, changing tires, lubricating vehicles, installing light bulbs, batteries, windshield wiper blades, and other minor accessories; cleaning, replacing fan belts, oil and air filters; providing tire services by or on behalf of a motor club holding a certificate of authority issued pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 12160) of Part 5 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code or by an operator of a tow truck, as defined in Section 615 of the Vehicle Code, owned or operated by a person or entity possessing a valid motor carrier permit, as described in Section 34620 of the Vehicle Code, and other minor services which the director, by regulation, determines are customarily performed by a gasoline service station.
(h) “Director” means the Director of Consumer Affairs.
(i) “Commercial business agreement” means an agreement, whether in writing or oral, entered into between a business or commercial enterprise and an automobile repair dealer, prior to the repair which is requested being made, which agreement contemplates a continuing business arrangement under which the automobile repair dealer is to repair any vehicle covered by the agreement, but does not mean any warranty or extended service agreement normally given by an automobile repair facility to its customers.
(j) “Customer” means the person presenting a motor vehicle for repair and authorizing the repairs to that motor vehicle. “Customer” shall not mean the automotive repair dealer providing the repair services or an insurer involved in a claim that includes the motor vehicle being repaired or an employee or agent or a person acting on behalf of the dealer or insurer.

SEC. 2.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.