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.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 258, Sec. 2. (AB 2289) Effective January 1, 2011.)