BILL NUMBER: AB 2042INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Levine FEBRUARY 20, 2014 An act to amend Section 2989.8 of, and to add Section 2986.55 to, the Civil Code, relating to motor vehicle leases. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2042, as introduced, Levine. Vehicle Leasing Act: zero-emission vehicles: option to purchase or renew lease. Existing law, the Vehicle Leasing Act, specifies requirements for contracts for leases of motor vehicles, including the requirement that the contract contain prescribed information regarding the motor vehicle and the terms of the lease. Existing law makes a violation of the act's provisions a misdemeanor. This bill would require a lease contract for the lease of a zero-emission vehicle that was counted by the manufacturer towards meeting the requirements of the State Air Resources Board to contain the option for the lessee to purchase the vehicle or to renew the lease agreement for the vehicle for 2 years or more, at the end of the first lease term. The bill would exempt a violation of these requirements from the misdemeanor provision and make related changes. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 2986.55 is added to the Civil Code, to read: 2986.55. (a) A lease contract for the lease of a zero-emission vehicle that was counted by the manufacturer towards meeting the requirements of the zero-emission vehicle standards of the State Air Resources Board shall contain the option for the lessee to purchase the vehicle or renew the lease agreement for the vehicle for two years or more, at the end of the first lease term. (b) Section 2989.8 shall not apply to a violation of subdivision (a). SEC. 2. Section 2989.8 of the Civil Code is amended to read: 2989.8.AnyExcept as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person whoshallknowingly and willfullyviolateviolates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.