- Introduced -

SB 541 - This act modifies the motor vehicle emission inspection program for the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. The inspections were mandated in SB 590, from 1994, but have not been implemented.

The Missouri Highway Patrol and the Department of Natural Resources shall establish a public education program on existing vehicle maintenance requirements, attainment of federal air quality standards and the measures considered to satisfy the air quality standards. The Highway Patrol may provide enforcement procedures and personnel for the existing, BAR90 program.

All rules promulgated by the Air Conservation Commission shall be subject to the rulemaking provisions of chapter 536, RSMo.

The act restricts establishment of the enhanced emissions inspection program to the urbanized portion of the St. Louis nonattainment area, as determined by the local metropolitan planning organization.

Currently, the Missouri Air Conservation Commission is prohibited from establishing an enhanced I/M program under chapter 643 in any area where the Governor has "opted-in" to require reformulated gas (RFG) in that same area. The act removes this prohibition on the establishment of the enhanced I/M program in areas with RFG.

The act provides that the inspection program shall not be implemented until after final disposition of all lawsuits brought by the Attorney General as required by SB 590, including all appeals of rulings.

The act requires the Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri Highway Patrol to enter into an interagency agreement covering all aspects of the administration and enforcement of any enhanced emissions inspection implemented under Chapter 643, RSMo.

The Department shall license inspections stations, rather than contract for stations. The Air Conservation Commission shall delineate underserved areas and establish incentives to encourage the establishment of stations in these areas. Service management, coordination and data processing may be provided by the Department or another person. Licenses shall be for up to seven years and shall be annually reviewed. A license may be suspended or revoked if the licensee is not meeting the requirements of the applicable law and rules.

The act removes authorization for the Department to purchase the inspection station facilities and lease the facilities to the licensees. When establishing the number and location of inspection stations, public convenience shall be given first priority and financial viability of stations shall be considered.

The act requires that at least three inspection stations shall be capable of testing vehicles which are four-wheel-drive only. The act provides that the pressure and purge tests shall be nonintrusive and prohibits a vehicle from failing the inspection based solely on the visual inspection.

Existing law allows an organization of motor vehicle dealers to establish one or more inspection stations for inspecting only vehicles owned by members of the organization. The act broadens this provision to allow any person or organization to establish stations for inspecting only vehicles owned by the person or members of the organization. The minimum size of fleet for which the fleet operator may establish an inspection station for such fleet is lowered from five hundred to one hundred vehicles.

A motor vehicle dealer may sell a vehicle with prior inspection and approval within 90 days preceding the date of sale. A dealer may also sell a vehicle without prior inspection and approval. The act allows such a vehicle, if returned by the buyer for failing the emissions inspection, to be inspected and approved without the option for a waiver and then be returned to the buyer. The requirement for a dealer to provide a full refund if the vehicle is not returned with inspection and approval in five days is removed by the act.

Inspectors must meet all training requirements established by the Department. Emission repair technicians must be certified by the Air Conservation Commission.

Repair costs may be applied toward reaching the waiver amount only if the repairs are performed by a certified repair technician.

The act requires a continuously-updated electronic display of the current waiting time at each station. The twenty dollar fee reduction for persons required to wait more than one hour for an inspection is removed by the act, and the maximum fee reduction shall be ten dollars for any person required to wait more than thirty minutes for an inspection. The waiting time shall begin when the vehicle is on the premises of the inspection station and available for inspection.

The Highway Patrol may assign personnel who are not highway patrol officers, known as "brown shirts", to investigate and enforce all emissions inspection programs.

This act is similar to SB 72 from 1997.

The act contains penalty provisions.

OTTO FAJEN