Automotive repair: crash parts.

Existing law, the Automotive Repair Act, establishes the Bureau of Automotive Repair under the supervision and control of the Director of Consumer Affairs. The act provides for the registration and regulation of automotive repair dealers and authorizes the director to adopt regulations to implement its provisions. The act requires all work done by an automotive repair dealer to be recorded on an invoice that describes all service work done and parts supplied. The act requires the invoice to include a statement indicating whether any crash parts are original equipment manufacturer crash parts or nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts. The act also requires this information to be provided to a customer in an itemized written estimate when an automotive repair dealer is doing auto body or collision repairs. Existing law requires the automotive repair dealer to obtain authorization from the customer before performing work and imposing charges. A violation of the act is a crime. Existing law governing motor vehicle replacement parts prohibits an insurer from requiring the use of specified parts in the repair of an insured's motor vehicle unless certain requirements have been met. This bill would define and redefine "crash part," "aftermarket crash part," and "original equipment manufacturer crash part," for purposes of the act and the motor vehicle replacement part provisions. The bill would specify that an automotive repair dealer who prepares a written estimate that includes replacement of a deployed airbag and who fails to repair and fully restore the airbag where the consumer has paid for the repair, as specified, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both. The bill would require the invoice for work done by an automotive repair dealer to describe all service work done, parts supplied, and crash parts installed. The bill would make a statement of legislative intent regarding this requirement. Because a violation of some of the bill's provisions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.