Vehicles: compressed natural gas vehicles: inspections.

(1) Existing law authorizes the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol to adopt and enforce regulations and standards with respect to fuel containers and fuel systems on vehicles using, among other fuels, compressed natural gas and the operation of vehicles using compressed natural gas to ensure the safety of the equipment and vehicles and of persons and property using the highways. Existing law requires all motor vehicles with compressed natural gas fuel systems used for propulsion to comply either with specified regulations or with certain federal standards. This bill would, notwithstanding any other law, require that a cylinder and tank bracket inspection be conducted on all motor vehicles with a compressed natural gas fuel system every 3 years by an independent qualified compressed natural gas cylinder inspector, except as provided, and that the cylinder be replaced on these vehicles before the manufacturer expiration date marked on the cylinder. The bill would require a qualified compressed natural gas cylinder inspector to report his or her findings to the Department of Motor Vehicles, as specified. The bill would prohibit any person from conducting the inspections or performing the reporting requirements described above unless the person is a qualified compressed natural gas inspector. The bill would establish requirements for the qualification and registration of qualified natural gas cylinder inspectors. (2) Existing law establishes a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program, commonly known as the smog check program, enforced by the Bureau of Automotive Repair in the Department of Consumer Affairs which provides for the inspection of all motor vehicles, except those specifically exempted from the program, upon registration, biennially upon renewal of registration, upon transfer of ownership, and in certain other circumstances. Under existing law, this program includes the establishment and operation of smog check stations, and the department is required to establish training requirements for smog check technicians. Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to require, upon initial registration, and, except as specified, upon transfer of ownership and registration, of a motor vehicle, and upon registration of a motor vehicle previously registered outside this state that is subject to those provisions, a valid certificate of compliance or a certificate of noncompliance, as appropriate, with respect to smog certification. This bill would require a smog check technician, when inspecting a motor vehicle with a compressed natural gas fuel system, to locate and report the manufacturer expiration date marked on the vehicle's cylinder to the Department of Motor Vehicles in a manner to be determined by the department. The bill would also require the department to refuse to renew the registration of a motor vehicle with a compressed natural gas fuel system if the department has not received an inspection report confirming that the vehicle has received a cylinder and tank bracket inspection in the last 3 years or if the cylinder attributed to the vehicle is past the expiration date on record with the department. (3) Existing law, the Biennial Inspection of Terminals (BIT) Program, generally requires the Department of the California Highway Patrol to periodically inspect every terminal of a motor carrier, as defined, that operates certain vehicles. The program requires the motor carrier to provide the department with all maintenance records, as defined, during the inspection. This bill would require a motor carrier subject to the cylinder and tank bracket inspections and cylinder replacement requirements described above to include all records pertaining to the inspections and replacements with the maintenance records provided to the department in compliance with the BIT Program. This bill would also make conforming changes.