Section 44125.

(a) No later than July 1, 2009, the state board, in consultation with the bureau, shall adopt a program to commence on January 1, 2010, that allows for the voluntary retirement of passenger vehicles and light-duty and medium-duty trucks that are high polluters. The program shall be administered by the bureau pursuant to guidelines adopted by the state board.

(b) The guidelines shall ensure all of the following:

(1) Vehicles retired pursuant to the program are permanently removed from operation and retired at a dismantler under contract with the bureau.

(2) Districts retain their authority to administer vehicle retirement programs otherwise authorized under law.

(3) The program is available for high polluting passenger vehicles and light-duty and medium-duty trucks that have been continuously registered in California for two years prior to acceptance into the program or otherwise proven to have been driven primarily in California for the last two years and have not been registered in another state or country in the last two years.

(4) The program is focused where the greatest air quality impact can be identified.

(5) (A) Compensation for retired vehicles shall be at least one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for a low-income motor vehicle owner, as defined in Section 44062.1, and no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for all other motor vehicle owners.

(B) Replacement may be an option for all motor vehicle owners and may be in addition to compensation for vehicles retired pursuant to subparagraph (A). For low-income motor vehicle owners as defined in Section 44062.1 compensation shall be no less than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500). Compensation for all other motor vehicle owners may not exceed compensation for low-income motor vehicle owners.

(C) Compensation for either retired or replacement vehicles for low-income motor vehicle owners may be increased as necessary to maximize the air quality benefits of the program while also ensuring participation by low-income motor vehicle owners, as defined in Section 44062.1. Increases in compensation amounts may be based on factors, including, but not limited to, the age of the retired or replaced vehicle, the emissions benefits of the retired or replaced vehicle, the emissions impact of any replacement vehicle, participation by low-income motor vehicle owners, as defined in Section 44062.1, and the location of the vehicle in an area of the state with the poorest air quality.

(6) Cost-effectiveness and impacts on disadvantaged and low-income populations are considered.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 401, Sec. 5. Effective September 28, 2013.)