The Florida Senate

325.2135  Motor vehicle emissions inspection program; development of specifications; fees; reporting.--

(1)  The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall hire an independent expert consultant to develop appropriate request-for-proposal specifications and a range of inspection fees for the motor vehicle emissions inspection program based on an annual and a biennial inspection program for vehicles 4 model years old and older, using the basic test for hydrocarbon emissions and carbon monoxide emissions and other mobile source testing for nitrous oxides or other pollutants, and no later than January 1, 1999, to report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives setting forth the relevant facts and the department's recommendations. Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 325, the department and the Governor and Cabinet, acting as head of that agency, are prohibited from entering into any contract or extension of a contract for any form of motor vehicles emissions testing without legislative approval through the enactment of specific legislation directing the department to implement an inspection program and establishing a fee for the program.

(2)  If no specific legislation is passed during the 1999 legislative session to direct the department to implement a motor vehicle inspection program, the department may issue a request for proposal and enter one or more contracts for a biennial inspection program for vehicles 5 model years and older using the basic test for hydrocarbon emissions and carbon monoxide emissions. The requirements for the program included in the proposals must be based on the requirements under chapter 325 unless those requirements conflict with this section. No contract entered into under this subsection may be for longer than 2 years. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 325.214, if the fee for motor vehicle inspection proposed by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will exceed $10 per inspection, the department may impose the higher fee if such fee is approved through the budget amendment process set forth in chapter 216 and notice is provided to the chairmen of the Senate and House Transportation and Natural Resources Committees at the time it is provided to the Senate Ways and Means and House Appropriations Committees.

History.--s. 1, ch. 98-254.