43200.1
. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that since 1998,
the state board has imposed smog index label specifications on new
passenger cars and light-duty trucks that are sold and registered in
the state to inform consumers about emissions of air pollutants from
the use of new vehicles.
(b) (1) (A) The state board, not later than July 1, 2007, shall
revise the regulations adopted pursuant to Section 43200 to rename
the existing label required by those regulations, and to require the
renamed label to include, for model year 2009 and subsequent model
year motor vehicles, information on the emissions of global warming
gases from motor vehicles for the same model year.
(B) This subdivision applies to, at a minimum, all passenger cars
and light-duty trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 8,500 pounds or
less, and to all motor vehicles subject to regulation pursuant to
Section 43018.5.
(C) Emissions of global warming gases shall include emissions, as
determined by the state board, from vehicle operation and upstream
emissions.
(2) The label shall include all of the following:
(A) A smog index that contains quantitative information presented
in a continuous, easy-to-read scale, unless the state board
determines, after at least one public workshop, that an alternative
graphical representation will more effectively convey the information
to consumers, and that compares the emissions from the vehicle with
the average projected emissions from all vehicles of the same model
year sold in the state for which a label is required. For reference
purposes, the index shall also identify the emissions from the
vehicle model of that same model year that has the lowest
smog-forming emissions.
(B) A global warming index that contains quantitative information
presented in a continuous, easy-to-read scale, unless the state board
determines, after at least one public workshop, that an alternative
graphical representation will more effectively convey the information
to consumers, and that compares the emissions of global warming
gases from the vehicle with the average projected emissions of global
warming gases from all vehicles of the same model year sold in the
state for which a label is required. For reference purposes, the
index shall also identify the emissions of global warming gases from
the vehicle model of that same model year that has the lowest
emissions of global warming gases.
(C) A brief explanation, prepared by the state board, of the
indices required by this section, including the identification of
motor vehicle usage as a primary cause of global warming, and how
emissions of those gases from motor vehicles may be reduced.
(D) The use of at least one color ink, as determined by the state
board, in addition to black.
(c) In order to ensure that the label is useful and informative to
consumers, the state board shall, to the extent feasible within its
existing resources, do both of the following in designing the label:
(1) Seek input from automotive consumers, graphic design
professionals, and persons with expertise in environmental labeling.
(2) Consider other relevant label formats consistent with
paragraph (2) of subdivision (b).
(d) The indices included in the label pursuant to paragraph (2) of
subdivision (b) shall be updated as determined necessary by the
state board to ensure that the differences in emissions among
vehicles are readily apparent to the consumer.
(e) The state board, in consultation with other agencies as
appropriate, may recommend to the Legislature additional sources of
air pollution that emit significant amounts of global warming gases
for which the disclosure of information regarding those emissions
would be an effective means of educating the public about the sources
of global warming and its impacts.
(f) The state board shall, as it determines appropriate and to the
extent feasible within its existing resources, incorporate
information from the label into existing programs designed to educate
motor vehicle consumers about emissions of global warming gases and
other air pollutants.
(g) The state board may accept donations or grants of funds from
any person for the purposes of the program established pursuant to
this section, and shall deposit amounts received from donations or
grants into the Air Pollution Control Fund. The source of any funds
received pursuant to this section shall be disclosed at all public
hearings and workshops to implement this section. Donations, grants,
or other commitments of money to the fund may be dedicated for
specific purposes consistent with the goals of this section.
(h) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions
apply:
(1) "Global warming gases" has the same meaning as greenhouse
gases given in subdivision (h) of Section 42801.1.
(2) "Upstream emissions" means emissions of global warming gases
that occur during the extraction, refining, transport, and local
distribution of motor vehicle fuels as determined by the state board.