HCS SS#2 SCS SB 583 -- VEHICLE EMISSIONS INSPECTION PROGRAM

SPONSOR:  Griesheimer (Lembke)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Transportation by a vote of 14 to 0.

This substitute revises the state vehicle emissions inspection
program by creating a decentralized emissions inspection program
in which only motor vehicle safety inspection stations and other
entities certified by the Air Conservation Commission will
conduct emission inspections.  The program will apply
consistently throughout the City of St. Louis and the counties of
St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson, and Franklin.

Prior to September 1, 2007, the commission must develop a program
which allows official emissions inspection stations to conduct
onboard diagnostic testing on 1996 and newer vehicles.  Before
issuing a certificate of authorization to a prospective station,
the commission must determine if the applicant will be properly
equipped, has qualified emission inspectors, and meets other
requirements specified by the commission.  Official inspection
stations which are certified will be allowed to repair motor
vehicles to bring them into compliance.

The Department of Natural Resources must issue a report to the
General Assembly and the Governor regarding the progress of
implementing the decentralized emissions inspection program.  The
report will include a summary describing how many inspection
stations or individuals the department expects to participate in
the program and how many inspection stations or individuals will
be qualified by September 1, 2007, to conduct the emissions
inspections.  The department will also be required to actively
promote participation in the decentralized emission inspection
program among qualified motor vehicle dealers, service stations,
and other individuals.  After the implementation of the program,
the department must monitor participation in the program and must
attempt to ensure, through promotional efforts, that no more than
20% of all persons residing in the affected nonattainment area
reside farther than five miles from the nearest inspection
station.

The fee for an emission inspection will be $24.  Vehicle owners
will not be charged an additional fee for a reinspection
completed within 20 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and
holidays.  The commission must establish, by rule, a waiver
amount not to exceed $450.  The wavier amount for an owner that
performs repair work on his or her own vehicle will be $400 if
the cost of the parts used by the owner is equal to or greater
than $400.  The cost for labor performed by the owner will not
count toward the waiver limit.  The commission may establish by
rule a lower waiver amount for owners who provide reasonable and
reliable proof that they are financially dependent solely on
state and federal disability benefits and other public assistance
programs.  This proof must be submitted to the commission 30
calendar days prior to each subsequent emissions inspection
before the lowered waiver amount is allowed.  The Director of the
Department of Revenue may verify a successful inspection
electronically.

The substitute exempts from the inspection requirements
diesel-powered vehicles except light-duty, diesel-powered
vehicles manufactured after 1996 with a gross vehicle weight
rating of 8,500 pounds or less; new motor vehicles previously
titled and registered for a four-year period following their
model year of manufacture if the odometer reading is less than
40,000 miles at their first required biennial safety inspection;
vehicles which are engaged in interstate commerce and are
proportionately registered with the Highway Reciprocity
Commission; new motor vehicles of the current calendar year and
any calendar year within two years of the current calendar year
which have an odometer reading of less than 6,000 miles; school
buses; and motor vehicles driven fewer than 12,000 miles between
biennial safety inspections.  Vehicles which are inspected and
approved prior to a sale or transfer will not be subject to
another emission inspection for 90 days after the date of sale or
transfer.

The procedures for becoming an official emissions inspection
station are specified.  The commission may suspend a station's
certificate of authority to conduct emission inspections if the
station is given due process as specified in the substitute.

The Department of Natural Resources and the State Highway Patrol
will provide oversight of the emissions inspection program.
Beginning October 1, 2008, and every October 1 thereafter, the
department and the patrol must jointly submit an annual report to
the General Assembly detailing the oversight measures implemented
for the program, data collected regarding compliance and
incidents of fraud, and recommendations for improvements to the
program.

The substitute abolishes the Missouri Air Pollution Control Fund
and transfers its moneys to the Missouri Air Emission Reduction
Fund.

The substitute becomes effective September 1, 2007.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that emission inspection and
maintenance, more commonly called I/M, is required by the federal
Clean Air Act for certain areas that do not meet federal health-
based air quality standards.  The St. Louis area does not
currently comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standard
for ozone.  Pursuant to the Clean Air Act, the state must develop
a plan to bring the area into compliance.  This plan is due to
the Environmental Protection Agency in June 2007.  The program
proposed in SB 583 exceeds the Basic Performance Standard and
meets the legal requirements required.  The bill also reflects
views and concerns of many people in the St. Louis region by
moving the current centralized emissions testing program to a
decentralized testing system using onboard diagnostics for 1996
and newer vehicles only.  The same vehicle repair shops that
currently do safety tests will be able to do emissions testing as
well.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Stouffer; Department of
Natural Resources; Ken Storm; Missouri Tire Industry Association;
Auto Service Association of Kansas City; and Alliance of
Automotive Service Providers.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say the safety inspections
should not be repealed.

Testifying against the bill were Joe Mareschal and Michael A.
Najjar, Najjar Car Care; AFL-CIO; Ted Schulte; and Greg Kinder,
Autotech Auto Center.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill support the emission
testing provisions but oppose the repeal of the safety inspection
program.

Others testifying on the bill was AAA Auto Club of Missouri.

Robert Triplett, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:46 am