44010.5
. (a) The department shall implement a program with the
capacity to commence, by January 1, 1995, the testing at test-only
facilities, in accordance with this chapter, of 15 percent of that
portion of the total state vehicle fleet consisting of vehicles
subject to inspection each year in the biennial program and that are
registered in the enhanced program area, as established pursuant to
paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 44003.
(b) (1) The department shall increase the capacity of the program
so that the capacity exists to commence, by January 1, 1996, the
testing at test-only facilities of that portion of the state vehicle
fleet that is subject to inspection and is registered in the enhanced
program area, which is sufficient to meet the emission reduction
performance standards established by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency in regulations adopted pursuant to the Clean Air
Act Amendments of 1990, taking into account the results of the pilot
demonstration program established pursuant to Section 44081.6.
(2) Upon increasing the capacity of the program pursuant to
paragraph (1), the department shall afford smog check stations that
are licensed and certified pursuant to Sections 44014 and 44014.2 the
initial opportunity to perform the required inspections. The
department shall adopt, by regulation, the requirements to provide
that initial opportunity.
(3) If the department determines that there is an insufficient
number of licensed test-only smog check stations operating in an
enhanced area to meet the increased demand for test-only inspections,
the department may increase the capacity of the program by utilizing
existing contracts.
(c) The program shall utilize the testing procedures described in
Section 44012. Vehicles selected for testing pursuant to this section
shall include vehicles equipped without second generation onboard
diagnostic systems (OBD II) and vehicles with emission problems that
may not be adequately detected by the vehicle's OBD II, as determined
by the department in consultation with the state board. The
department, in consultation with the state board, may also select for
testing pursuant to this section any other vehicles necessary in
order to meet the requirement described in paragraph (1) of
subdivision (b).
(d) Vehicles that are not diesel-powered in the enhanced program
area which are not subjected to the program established by this
section may be tested at smog check stations licensed pursuant to
Section 44014 that use loaded mode dynamometers. Diesel-powered
vehicles in the enhanced program area that are not subjected to the
program established by this section may be tested at smog check
stations licensed pursuant to Section 44014 using appropriate testing
procedures as determined by the department.
(e) (1) The department may implement the program established
pursuant to subdivision (a) through a network of privately operated
test-only facilities established pursuant to contracts to be awarded
pursuant to this section.
(2) The initial contracts awarded pursuant to this section shall
terminate not later than seven years from the date that the contracts
were executed.
(f) No person shall be a contractor of the department for
test-only facilities in all air basins, exclusively, where the
enhanced program is in effect unless the department determines, after
a public hearing, that there is not more than one qualified
contractor. The South Coast Air Basin shall have at least two
contractors, and the combined enhanced program area that includes
Bakersfield, Fresno, and Sacramento shall have at least two
contractors. The department may operate test-only facilities on an
interim basis while contractors are being sought.
(g) (1) In awarding contracts under this section, the department
shall request bids through the issuance of a request for proposal.
(2) The department shall first determine which bidders are
qualified, and then award the contract to the qualified bidder,
giving priority to the test cost and convenience to motorists.
(3) The department shall provide a contractual preference, as
determined by the department, not to exceed 10 percent of the total
proposal evaluation score, based on the following factors:
(A) Up to 5 percent to bidders providing firm commitments to
employ businesses that are licensed or otherwise substantially
participating in the smog check program after January 1, 1994.
(B) Up to 5 percent to bidders based on the extent to which
bidders maximize the potential economic benefit of the smog check
program on this state over the term of the contract. That potential
economic benefit shall include the percentage of work performed by
California-based firms, the potential of the total project workforce
who will be California residents, and the percentage of subcontracts
that will be awarded to California-based firms.
(4) Any contract executed by the department for the operation of a
test-only facility shall expressly require compliance with this
chapter and any regulations adopted by the department pursuant to
this chapter.
(h) The department shall ensure that there is a sufficient number
of test-only facilities, and that they are properly located, to
ensure reasonable accessibility and convenience to all persons within
an enhanced program area, and that the waiting time for consumers is
minimized. The department may operate test-only facilities on an
interim basis to ensure convenience to consumers. The department
shall specify in the request for proposal the minimum number of
test-only facilities that are required for the program. Any contracts
initially awarded pursuant to this section shall ensure that the
contractors are capable of fulfilling the requirements of subdivision
(a).
(i) Any data generated at a test-only facility shall be the
property of the state, and shall be fully accessible to the
department at any time. The department may set contract
specifications for the storage of that data in a central data storage
system or facility designated by the department.
(j) The department shall ensure an effective transition to the new
program by implementing an effective public education program and
may specify in the request for proposal a dollar amount that bidders
are required to include in their bids for public education
activities, to be implemented pursuant to Section 44070.5.
(k) The department shall ensure the effective management of the
test-only facilities and shall specify in the request for proposal
that a manager be present during all hours of station operation.
(l) The department shall ensure and facilitate the effective
transition of employees of businesses that are licensed or otherwise
substantially participating in the smog check program and may specify
in the request for proposal that test-only facility management be
Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified, or be certified by a
comparable program as determined by the department.
(m) As part of the contracts to be awarded pursuant to subdivision
(e), the department may require contractors to perform functions
previously undertaken by referee stations throughout the state, as
determined by the department, at some or all of the affected stations
in enhanced areas, and at additional stations outside enhanced areas
only to the extent necessary to provide appropriate access to
referee functions.
(n) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to avoid delays to
the program implementation timeline required by this chapter or the
Clean Air Act, the Department of General Services, at the request of
the department, may exempt contracts awarded pursuant to this section
from existing laws, rules, resolutions, or procedures that are
otherwise applicable, including, but not limited to, restrictions on
awarding contracts for more than three years. The department shall
identify any exemptions requested and granted pursuant to this
subdivision and report thereon to the Legislature.
(o) The department shall implement the program established in this
section only in urbanized areas classified by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency as a serious, severe, or extreme
nonattainment area for ozone or a moderate or serious nonattainment
area for carbon monoxide with a design value greater than 12.7 ppm,
and shall not implement the program in any other area.