May 22, 2012—The Massachusetts state Senate recently approved the passage of the Right to Repair Act, the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition announced Monday.
The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition said the legislation is meant to protect motoring consumers by requiring auto manufacturers to sell all non-proprietary repair information, tools and safety-related bulletins to independent repair shops and new car dealers so they can repair vehicles using the same manufacturers’ codes and ensure a competitive marketplace in the auto repair industry. The legislation provides car companies with strong protections for their trade secrets, and only requires them to make available the same diagnostic and repair information they provide to their franchised dealers.
Approval by the Massachusetts state Senate is just the first step in getting the Right to Repair legislation passed. The bill now advances to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for approval, the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition said.
The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition said more than 100,000 Massachusetts citizens signed the Right to Repair ballot initiative earlier this year. If the state’s House of Representatives does not pass the bill, Massachusetts residents will have an opportunity to vote on its passage on the November ballot. The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition said recent polls have shown that 87 percent of residents in Massachusetts support the legislation.
“We thank chairman Tom Kennedy and the legislation’s Senate sponsor, Sen. Jack Hart. Without their leadership, consumers would still be waiting for this step,” said Art Kinsman, spokesman for the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition. “We applaud the Senate for acting and look forward to passage in the House and then on to the Governor for his signature—consumers are waiting.”
For more information, visit righttorepair.org or massrighttorepair.com.
