From: Subject: AB 48 Assembly Bill - Veto Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:06:46 -0600 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Location: http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0001-0050/ab_48_vt_20071013.html X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 AB 48 Assembly Bill - Veto 
  BILL NUMBER:  AB 48
  VETOED	DATE: 10/13/2007




To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 48 without my signature.

This bill exponentially expands the scope of electrical and
electronic equipment subject to the Restriction on the use of
Hazardous Substances (RoHS) provisions under the California Waste
Recycling Act.  Unfortunately, the approach taken in this bill is
largely unworkable and instead of the benefits it seeks to
accomplish, could ultimately result in unintended and potentially
more harmful consequences.

This bill purports to impose restrictions similar to those already in
place in the European Union, but the deviations it takes from the
European Union approach are fatally flawed.  For example, the
exemption language for spare parts and refurbished products, as
currently written in this bill, will make many electronic products
prematurely obsolete and force their retirement years earlier than
necessary.  The European Union RoHS Directive includes a specific
exemption for spare and refurbished products to promote and extend
the lives of electronic products and keep them out of the waste
stream.

Additionally, this bill significantly expands the list of products
subject to California's restriction on the use of specified hazardous
metals.  Existing law covers nine categories of video display
devices.  This bill is overly broad in its scope because it would
prohibit the sale of potentially tens of thousands of electrical and
electronic products for California's consumers and businesses.

Sincerely,



Arnold Schwarzenegger