Minnesota Session Laws - 1995, Regular Session

                             CHAPTER 204-H.F.No. 2 
                  An act relating to the environment; automobile 
                  emissions; providing that a vehicle need not be 
                  inspected until the year of its registration is five 
                  years more than its model year; changing the 
                  inspection fee; providing for advertising restrictions 
                  and temporary registrations; requiring a report; 
                  amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, sections 116.61, 
                  subdivision 1, and by adding a subdivision; 116.62, by 
                  adding subdivisions; and 116.64, subdivision 1. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 116.61, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [REQUIREMENT.] (a) Beginning no later than 
        July 1, 1991 Except as described in subdivision 1a, each motor 
        vehicle registered to an owner residing in the metropolitan area 
        and each motor vehicle customarily domiciled in the metropolitan 
        area but exempt from registration under section 168.012 or 
        473.448 must be inspected annually for air pollution emissions 
        as provided in sections 116.60 to 116.65. 
           (b) The inspections must take place at a public or fleet 
        inspection station.  The inspections must take place within 90 
        days prior to the registration deadline for the vehicle or, for 
        vehicles that are exempt from license fees under section 168.012 
        or 473.448, at a time set by the agency. 
           (c) The registration on a motor vehicle subject to 
        paragraph (a) may not be renewed unless the vehicle has been 
        inspected for air pollution emissions as provided in sections 
        116.60 to 116.65 and received a certificate of compliance or a 
        certificate of waiver. 
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 116.61, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 1a.  [EXCEPTION FOR NEW VEHICLES.] A vehicle need not 
        be inspected until the year in which it is being registered is 
        five years more than its model year. 
           Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 116.62, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 5a.  [TEMPORARY REGISTRATION.] The commissioner, in 
        consultation with the commissioner of public safety, shall adopt 
        a procedure for granting temporary registrations to persons 
        whose vehicle registrations have expired or will shortly 
        expire.  Upon request of the vehicle owner, the commissioner 
        shall issue a letter of temporary registration, valid for one 
        day, that allows the owner to drive to an inspection station to 
        have the vehicle inspected. 
           Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 116.62, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 9.  [ADVERTISING BY CONTRACTOR.] Any advertisement or 
        promotional material relating to the motor vehicle inspection 
        program that is paid for by the contractor selected under 
        subdivision 3 must clearly display a disclaimer stating that the 
        advertisement or promotional material was not paid for by the 
        state.  
           Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 116.64, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [AMOUNT.] Beginning January 1, 1991 August 
        1, 1995, an annual fee established in accordance with the rules 
        of the agency, not to exceed $10 $8, is imposed for the cost of 
        the inspection of a motor vehicle at a public inspection station 
        and such reinspections as the rules of the agency allow, the 
        cost of the contract entered under section 116.62, subdivision 
        3, and the administrative costs of the agency and the department.
           Sec. 6.  [REPORT ON NEED FOR VEHICLE EMISSION INSPECTION 
        PROGRAM.] 
           (a) The commissioner of the pollution control agency, in 
        consultation with the United States Environmental Protection 
        Agency, shall take all reasonable steps to enable the state, by 
        July 1, 1998, to comply with the federal Clean Air Act without 
        having to continue the motor vehicle emission inspection program.
           (b) By December 15, 1997, the commissioner shall submit to 
        the chairs of the environment and natural resources committees 
        of the legislature a report that includes: 
           (1) a description of the commissioner's efforts under 
        paragraph (a) and the results of those efforts; 
           (2) an analysis of the state's attainment status under the 
        federal Clean Air Act as it relates to the need for a motor 
        vehicle emission inspection program; and 
           (3) recommendations regarding continuation of the motor 
        vehicle emission inspection program after July 1, 1998. 
           Sec. 7.  [APPLICATION.] 
           Sections 1 and 2 apply to vehicles whose registrations 
        expire on or after July 31, 1995. 
           Sec. 8.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Section 4 is effective the day following final enactment. 
           Presented to the governor May 22, 1995 
           Signed by the governor May 22, 1995, 7:30 p.m.