Ozone: indoor air cleaning devices.

Existing law requires the State Air Resources Board to develop and adopt regulations, consistent with federal law, to protect the public health from ozone emitted by indoor air cleaning devices, including medical and nonmedical devices used in occupied spaces. Existing law requires those regulations to include, among other things, an emission concentration standard for ozone emissions that is equivalent to the federal ozone emissions limit for air cleaning devices. Existing law generally sets forth crimes and penalties for violations of air pollution laws and any rule, regulation, permit, or order of the state board. This bill would instead require the state board, by July 1, 2026, or as soon as feasible, as provided, to include in these regulations an emission concentration standard for ozone emissions not greater than 0.005 parts per million, to the extent consistent with federal law, thereby imposing a more protective standard. The bill would require the regulations to include a ban on the sale or the offering for sale of devices that exceed that emissions limit, even if previously certified, after a date determined by the state board, unless the state board determines an exemption applies. The bill would also delete the limitation on the applicability of the regulations to only use in occupied spaces and would make other related changes. By expanding the scope of a crime, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.