Weights and measures: electric vehicle chargers.

Existing law regulates advertising that indicates the price of motor vehicle fuel, including electricity sold as a motor vehicle fuel. Existing law requires a county sealer to enforce the advertising requirements. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions a crime. Existing law defines "correct," for purposes of testing and verifying the accuracy of a weighing or measuring device, as a weight or measure or a weighing, measuring, or counting instrument that meets certain tolerance and specification requirements. This bill would, beginning January 1, 2026, authorize a county sealer to test and verify as correct any electric vehicle charger operated by a public agency, as defined, that is located in the county in which the sealer has jurisdiction. The bill would require a county sealer, upon testing and finding that an electric vehicle charger operated by a public agency is incorrect, as defined, to cause it to be marked with the words "out of order" and require the charger to be repaired or corrected, as specified. The bill would authorize a county board of supervisors to charge an annual registration fee for the cost of inspecting and testing an electric vehicle charger operated by a public agency, as specified. The bill would authorize a county sealer to levy a civil penalty against a public agency, or a vendor or entity contracted by the public agency to provide and maintain electric vehicle charger services on behalf of the public agency, that removes or obliterates a tag or device placed on an electric vehicle charger operated by a public agency, as specified. The bill would exempt an electric vehicle charger from testing and verification by a county sealer if it is owned by a local publicly owned electric utility, as defined, and if certain requirements are met. By expanding the scope of a crime, and to the extent it would impose additional duties on a county sealer, this 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.