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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Testing the emissions of later model cars no longer |
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yields significant benefits in terms of air quality; and |
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WHEREAS, In recent years, auto manufacturers have |
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dramatically improved their products, and vehicles are becoming |
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more fuel efficient and less polluting; moreover, consumers |
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increasingly favor lower emission vehicles, including hybrids and |
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electric cars; and |
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WHEREAS, The emissions inspection failure rate for all |
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vehicles across Texas is about five percent; while 13.5 percent of |
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1992 vehicles tested in 2016 failed inspection, a mere two percent |
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of 2014 vehicles failed; meanwhile, automakers are continuing to |
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make significant advancements in the realm of emissions control; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Currently, testing is conducted on vehicles between |
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2 and 24 years old; safety inspections commence at the two-year |
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mark, and the state determined that the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality could meet all federal requirements without |
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testing those vehicles that remain on the road a quarter century or |
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more; and |
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WHEREAS, Texans spend some $200 million annually on emissions |
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testing, yet the percentage of later model vehicles that do not meet |
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emissions standards is likely to continue decreasing; the TCEQ |
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could reduce the burden on the driving public by targeting only |
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those vehicles that are statistically most likely to fail emissions |
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inspections; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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1st Called Session, hereby direct the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality to identify the minimum state motor vehicle |
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inspection and maintenance program necessary in order to maintain |
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air quality in compliance with the provisions of the federal Clean |
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Air Act and, if appropriate, to develop a state implementation plan |
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revision and necessary rules to revise the program to meet but not |
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exceed the minimum requirements; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the commission submit any resulting state |
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implementation plan revision and rules to the U.S. Environmental |
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Protection Agency for approval and, if approval is forthcoming, |
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implement the revised program and submit to the legislature a list |
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of any recommended statutory changes to facilitate implementation |
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of a minimum program; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the chair of the commission and to the |
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executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental |
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Quality. |