Vehicle retirement and replacement: Charge Ahead California Initiative.

(1) Existing law creates an enhanced fleet modernization program for the retirement of high polluting vehicles to be administered by the Bureau of Automotive Repair pursuant to guidelines adopted by the State Air Resources Board. Existing law requires the program's guidelines to be updated no later than June 30, 2015. Existing law requires the updated guidelines to ensure vehicle replacement be an option for all motor vehicle owners and may be in addition to compensation for vehicles retired, as specified. This bill would require the updated guidelines to ensure there be a mobility option, as defined, and that the compensation for a mobility option be no less than $2,500. The bill would authorize the state board to increase the amount of the mobility option as necessary to maximize the air quality benefits of the program while also ensuring participation by low-income motor vehicle owners, as specified. The bill also would require the updated guidelines to ensure the inclusion of car sharing, as specified. (2) Existing law establishes the Air Quality Improvement Program that is administered by the State Air Resources Board for the purposes of funding projects related to, among other things, reduction of criteria air pollutants and improvement of air quality. Pursuant to the Air Quality Improvement Program, the state board has established the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project to promote the production and use of zero-emission vehicles and the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project to provide vouchers to help California fleets to purchase hybrid and zero-emission trucks and buses. This bill would establish the Charge Ahead California Initiative to be administered by the state board, in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, air pollution control and air quality management districts, and the public. The bill would state that the goals of the initiative are to, among other things, place in service at least 1,000,000 zero-emission and near-zero-emission vehicles by January 1, 2023, and to increase access for disadvantaged, low-income, and moderate-income communities and consumers to zero-emission and near-zero-emission vehicles. The bill would require the state board to include, commencing with the Air Quality Improvement Program funding plan for the 2016–17 fiscal year, a specified funding plan that includes the immediate fiscal year and a forecast of estimated funding needs for the subsequent 2 years commensurate with meeting the goals of the Charge Ahead California Initiative; to update the plan at least every 3 years through January 1, 2023; to adopt, no later than June 30, 2015, specified revisions to the criteria and other requirements for the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project; and to establish programs that further increase access to and direct benefits for disadvantaged, low-income, and moderate-income communities and consumers from electric transportation.