1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the environment; exempting newer motor 
  1.3             vehicles from annual air pollution emissions 
  1.4             inspections; authorizing temporary registrations to 
  1.5             facilitate vehicle inspections; requiring a report; 
  1.6             amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, sections 116.61, 
  1.7             subdivision 2; and 116.62, by adding a subdivision.  
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 116.61, 
  1.10  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.11     Subd. 2.  [EXEMPT VEHICLES.] The following motor vehicles 
  1.12  are exempt from the requirements of this section: 
  1.13     (1) a motor vehicle manufactured before the 1976 model year 
  1.14  or with an engine manufactured before the 1976 model year; 
  1.15     (2) a motor vehicle registered as classic, pioneer, 
  1.16  collector, or street rod under section 168.10; 
  1.17     (3) a motor vehicle that is exempted in accordance with 
  1.18  rules of the agency because the vehicle, although registered to 
  1.19  an owner residing in the metropolitan area, is customarily 
  1.20  domiciled outside of the metropolitan area; and 
  1.21     (4) any class of motor vehicle that is exempted by rule of 
  1.22  the agency because the vehicles present prohibitive inspection 
  1.23  problems or are inappropriate for inspection; and 
  1.24     (5) a motor vehicle the model year of which is no more than 
  1.25  four years earlier than the year in which it is being registered.
  1.26     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 116.62, is 
  2.1   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.2      Subd. 5a.  [TEMPORARY REGISTRATION.] The commissioner, in 
  2.3   consultation with the commissioner of public safety, shall adopt 
  2.4   a procedure for granting temporary registrations to persons 
  2.5   whose vehicle registrations have expired or will shortly 
  2.6   expire.  Upon request of the vehicle owner, the commissioner 
  2.7   shall issue a letter of temporary registration, valid for one 
  2.8   day, that allows the owner to drive to an inspection station to 
  2.9   have the vehicle inspected. 
  2.10     Sec. 3.  [REPORT ON NEED FOR VEHICLE EMISSION INSPECTION 
  2.11  PROGRAM.] 
  2.12     (a) The commissioner of the pollution control agency, in 
  2.13  consultation with the United States Environmental Protection 
  2.14  Agency, shall take all reasonable steps to enable the state, by 
  2.15  July 1, 1998, to comply with the federal Clean Air Act without 
  2.16  having to continue the motor vehicle emission inspection program.
  2.17     (b) By December 15, 1997, the commissioner shall submit to 
  2.18  the chairs of the environment and natural resources committees 
  2.19  of the legislature a report that includes: 
  2.20     (1) a description of the commissioner's efforts under 
  2.21  paragraph (a) and the results of those efforts; 
  2.22     (2) an analysis of the state's attainment status under the 
  2.23  federal Clean Air Act as it relates to the need for a motor 
  2.24  vehicle emission inspection program; and 
  2.25     (3) recommendations regarding continuation of the motor 
  2.26  vehicle emission inspection program after July 1, 1998.