Below is the legislative and regulatory update summary.   We will continue to review, monitor and report. Legislation   Vehicle Batteries        SB 615 –Electric Batteries – Concerns. Requires an automotive repair dealer that removes a battery from a vehicle that is still in service to participate in a core exchange program established by the battery supplier and be responsible for either returning a removed battery to the battery supplier or sending it to a qualified facility.  Status: Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. Employment                AB 518 - Paid Family leave – Concerns. Expands the definition of “family member” for purposes of the Paid Family Leave Program to allow workers to take time off to care for a seriously ill designated person. Status: Senate Ina ... read more

NEW CALIFORNIA LAWS FOR 2024 Every year, hundreds of new laws are enacted that impact California automotive repair dealers. Below is a brief summary of some of the key measures, in no particular order, that take effect January 1, 2024, unless otherwise noted. Minimum Wage Increase.   Reminder that effective January 1, 2024, the minimum wage will increase to $16.00 per hour for all employers regardless of size, based on a cost-of-living provision in the state minimum wage law. (SB 3 of 2017). Please note that local minimum wage ordinances may be higher.   BAR Citation and Fine Regulations.   Effective July 1, 2024, BAR may issue a citation and levy a fine against an automotive repair dealer (ARD) of up to $5,000 for each citation. Violations include, among other things, improper estimates, invoices, authorizations, deviation from trade standards, misleading advertising and guarantees and improper record retention. An ARD may ... read more

ASCCA is encouraging members to support the California Chamber of Commerce "Hit the Pause" campaign on several employment bills. The link provided below is simple and fast:   Hit the Pause website link: https://thepausepledge.com/# ACT NOW link: https://californiaemployersvoice.quorum.us/campaign/47792/   The specific bills addressed in this campaign are as follows: AB 524 (Wicks); dramatically expands family caregiver status, increasing employment costs and potential litigation against CA employers; SB 365 (Wiener); increases employer defense litigatio ... read more

The auto repair industry is actively recruiting young women and men to join our ranks. If you like cars, problem-solving, are tech-savvy, making good pay, and you want to help make a difference in peoples' lives, the auto repair industry may be the ideal fit for you. Check out our video below to see why!  ASCCA is serious about ensuring that the industry supports women in pursuing automotive careers and has formed a committee who supports this endeavor.  WOMEN IN AUTOMOTIVE COMMITTEE Committee’s Purpose Statement: The purpose of the Women in Automotive Committee is in line with the core purposed of the association with a focus on uniting and inspiring women in the industry and to inspire women to consider a career in the industry. Committee RosterSchol ... read more

ADVOCACY FUND UPDATE The ASCCA has established a fund to enhance our advocacy with the state legislature (e.g., legislative advocate’s travel, ASCCA’s annual legislative day lobbying, Government Affairs Committee initiatives). The committee’s efforts have had a huge impact and continue to protect the independent automotive aftermarket from legislation that have negatively impacted our members and small business owners all throughout the state. A special thank you to Mitch Mendenhall who coordinated the following donations from Chapter 24, as well as multiple donations made in honor of Jeff Stich. Thank you to all of the donors to the ASCCA Legislative Advocacy Fund. Your contributions have already made a difference! See the full list of donors here. To learn more about all of the gr ... read more