The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Minnesota (AASP-MN) has successfully advanced legislation to correct the imbalance between the surcharge amount retailers are required to collect for lead acid batteries and the core charge imposed by battery manufacturers. The bill was approved by both the House and Senate and signed into law by Gov. Pawlenty April 22.
AASP-MN worked with Sen. Ken Kelash (DFL-Minneapolis) and Rep. Paul Gardner (DFL-Shoreview) as Chief Authors of a bill which amends the surcharge on lead core batteries. The new retail battery surcharge has been changed to “at least $10” and will go into effect Aug. 1.
Minnesota was just one of a handful of states that restricted retail surcharges on automotive batteries to $5. The $5 surcharge, which has been in place since 1989, had not kept pace with core charges imposed by battery manufacturers in the marketplace. Retailers are mandated to charge a fee per battery sold unless the customer returns a used battery at the time of purchase.
“A supplier member brought this issue to the association’s attention just one year ago,” says Judell Anderson, AASP-MN executive director. “This is a prime example of how member input sets in motion AASP-MN initiatives which benefit the entire industry.”
For more information, visit www.aaspmn.org.
