An Act To Reduce the Cost of Automobile Repairs by Eliminating the Aftermarket Catalytic Converter Requirement

Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §585-D, first ¶,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 245, §1, is further amended to read:

Subject to the provisions of this section, the board may adopt and enforce standards that meet the requirements of the federal Clean Air Act, Section 177, 42 United States Code, Section 7507 relating to control of emissions from new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines. These standards, known as a "low-emission vehicle program," must be designed to prevent air pollution and achieve and maintain ambient air quality standards within the State , except that these standards may not require that new aftermarket catalytic converters sold or installed in the State be certified to any standards adopted by the State of California or the California Air Resources Board.

Sec. 2. Department of Environmental Protection; new motor vehicle emission standards. The Department of Environmental Protection shall, as soon as practicable, amend its rule Chapter 127 relating to new motor vehicle emission standards in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 585-D to ensure that new aftermarket catalytic converters sold or installed in the State are not required to be certified to any standards adopted by the State of California or the California Air Resources Board.

summary

This bill amends the Board of Environmental Protection's authority to adopt and enforce new motor vehicle emission standards by prohibiting the adoption of standards requiring that new aftermarket catalytic converters sold or installed in the State be certified to any standards adopted by the State of California or the California Air Resources Board. The bill also requires the Department of Environmental Protection, as soon as practicable, to amend its rule Chapter 127 relating to new motor vehicle emission standards in accordance with this statutory prohibition.