(a) The Legislature finds and declares that certain fluorinated gases are potent causes of global warming, and it is in the public interest that restrictions or prohibitions on the use of these gases be maintained and enhanced as appropriate in the state.

(b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Class I substances” and “class II substances” mean those substances listed in 42 U.S.C. § 7671a, as it read on November 15, 1990, or those substances listed in Appendix A or B of Subpart A of 40 C.F.R. part 82, as those read on January 3, 2017.

(2) “Hydrofluorocarbons” mean fluorinated gases used primarily as refrigerants in refrigeration, air-conditioning equipment, foam expansion agents, aerosol propellants, solvents, and fire suppressants.

(3) “Residential consumer refrigeration products” has the same meaning as defined in Section 430.2 of Subpart A of 10 C.F.R. part 430.

(4) “Substitute” means a chemical, product substitute, or alternative manufacturing process, whether existing or new, that is used to perform a function previously performed by a class I substance or class II substance and any substitute subsequently adopted to perform that function, including, but not limited to, hydrofluorocarbons.

(c) (1) All prohibitions on the use of class I substances and class II substances as set forth in 42 U.S.C. Secs. 7671a and 7671k, as those read on November 15, 1990, or any substitute as set forth in Appendix U and Appendix V of Subpart G of 40 C.F.R. part 82, as those read on January 3, 2017, shall apply, except as otherwise provided by in paragraph (3), state statute, or state regulation.

(2) If the United States Environmental Protection Agency approves a previously prohibited hydrofluorocarbon blend for foam blowing pursuant to the Significant New Alternatives Policy Program, adopted pursuant to Section 7671k of the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.), the state board shall expeditiously initiate a rulemaking pursuant to this section or other existing legal authority to conform its regulations with that federal action.

(3) (A) Prohibitions on residential consumer refrigeration products, except compact and built-in residential consumer refrigeration products, shall take effect January 1, 2022.

(B) Prohibitions on built-in residential consumer refrigeration products shall take effect on January 1, 2023.

(d) The state board may adopt a regulation that includes any of the following:

(1) The modification of the deadlines of a prohibition established pursuant to subdivision (c) if the state board determines that the modified deadline meets both of the following:

(A) Reduces the overall risk to human health or the environment.

(B) Reflects the earliest date that a substitute is currently or potentially available.

(2) The prohibition on the use of any substitute if the state board determines that the prohibition meets both of the following criteria:

(A) Reduces the overall risk to human health or the environment.

(B) A lower-risk substitute is currently or potentially available.

(3) The creation of a list of approved substitutes, use conditions, or use limits, if any, and the addition or removal of substitutes, use conditions, or use limits to or from the list of approved substitutes if the state board determines those substitutes reduce the overall risk to human health and the environment.

(e) A person shall not offer any equipment or product for sale, lease, rent, or otherwise cause any equipment or product to enter into commerce in California if that equipment or product uses or will use a substitute in a manner inconsistent with any of the following:

(1) Any prohibitions in subdivision (c).

(2) Any prohibitions, use conditions, or use limits in subdivision (d) or a state regulation.

(3) Any other applicable laws, including, but not limited to, the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations).

(f) (1) The state board may enforce this section. A violation of the requirements of this section may be enjoined pursuant to Section 41513 and is subject to the penalties set forth in Article 3 (commencing with Section 42400) of Chapter 4 of Part 4.

(2) Notwithstanding subdivisions (i) and (j) of Section 42410, the state board may impose an administrative penalty pursuant to Section 42410.

(3) Penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Air Pollution Control Fund.

(g) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 375, Sec. 1. (SB 1013) Effective January 1, 2019.)