Revises provisions relating to the control of emissions. (BDR 40-230)

Existing law authorizes the State Environmental Commission to prescribe by regulation standards for exhaust emissions, fuel evaporative emissions and visible emissions of smoke from mobile internal combustion engines on the ground and in the air. Any such standards must be approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles. (NRS 445B.760) Existing federal law authorizes a state to, under certain circumstances, adopt and enforce model year standards relating to the control of emissions from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines if such standards are identical to the standards adopted by the State of California. (42 U.S.C. § 7507) Section 1 of this bill: (1) authorizes the Commission to prescribe by regulation standards and other requirements for the control of emissions from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines that are identical to the State of California in accordance with federal law; and (2) requires the Commission to define certain terms in any such regulations adopted by the Commission. Section 3 of this bill makes conforming changes to allow the Commission to define the term “passenger car” for the purposes of any such regulations adopted by the Commission. Existing law authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to impose an administrative fine for violations relating to emissions standards and enforce any requirements relating to such standards adopted by the Commission. (NRS 445B.835) Section 1 instead authorizes: (1) the Commission to impose administrative fines for a violation of the emissions standards adopted by the Commission for the control of emissions from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines; and (2) the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to enforce any requirements adopted by the Commission relating to such standards. Section 6 of this bill makes conforming changes to transfer the authority to impose administrative fines and enforce such standards. Existing law provides that: (1) it is unlawful for a person to commit certain violations and take certain actions relating to the control of emissions; and (2) such violations and actions are subject to criminal penalties. (NRS 445B.840, 445B.845) Section 1 provides that a violation of the provisions of section 1 and any regulation or order adopted or issued pursuant thereto is not subject to criminal penalties. Sections 7 and 8 of this bill make conforming changes to provide that such actions are not subject to criminal penalties. Sections 2, 4 and 5 of this bill make conforming changes to indicate the proper placement of the provisions of section 1 in the Nevada Revised Statutes and to establish certain exceptions to existing law.