The Automotive Service Association strongly supports legislation presented to the Ohio House of Representatives – Senate Bill 232. The association urges Ohio’s mechanical repairs to send a letter of support for the bill to their representatives.

SB 232, which recently passed in the Ohio State Senate with overwhelming majority, was presented to the Ohio House of Representatives’ Committee on Commerce, Labor, and Technology on Dec. 9. If passed the bill would extend the jurisdiction of the Motor Vehicle Repair Board (MVRB) to include mechanical repairers, ASA said.

Under current Ohio law, only collision repair facilities are required to register with the MVRB. This loophole for mechanical repairs has allowed “backyard” operators to undercut legitimate businesses by avoiding compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) laws and Ohio’s environmental standards, ASA said. The proposed SB 232 would ensure that all automotive repair professionals are adhering to a uniform set of service and safety standards.

“Senate Bill 232 will ensure shops meet at least the minimum requirements to conduct business within the State of Ohio, provide consumers confidence that they are dealing with legitimate and professional automotive repair businesses, protect consumers, shop employees and the environment by ensuring that these repair businesses and their employees are properly trained,” said ASA in a letter to Commerce and Labor Committee Chair Kevin Bacon in March supporting the bill.

When the Ohio House began hearings on SB 232, ASA sent another letter of support for the bill.

For more information, visit ASA’s legislative website, TakingTheHill.com.