Today's Law As Amended


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SB-758 Cannabis.(2021-2022)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Section 26031.5 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:

26031.5.
 (a) The department  A licensing authority  may issue a citation to a licensee or unlicensed person for any act or omission that violates or has violated any provision of this division or any regulation adopted pursuant thereto. The department  licensing authority  shall issue the citation in writing, and shall describe with particularity the basis of the citation and the notification described in subdivision (c). The department  licensing authority  may include in each citation an order of abatement and fix a reasonable time for abatement of the violation. The department  licensing authority  may, as part of each citation, assess an administrative fine not to exceed five four  thousand dollars ($5,000) ($4,000)  per violation by a licensee and thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) per violation by an unlicensed person. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate violation. In assessing a fine, the department  a licensing authority  shall give due consideration to the appropriateness of the amount of the fine with respect to factors the department  licensing authority  determines to be relevant, including the following:
(1) The gravity of the violation by the licensee or person.
(2) The good faith of the licensee or person.
(3) The history of previous violations.
(b) The sanctions authorized under this section shall be separate from, and in addition to, all other administrative, civil, or criminal remedies.
(c) A citation issued  licensing authority that issues a citation  pursuant to this section shall include a provision that notifies the licensee or person that a hearing may be requested to contest the finding of a violation by submitting a written request within 30 days from service of the citation. The hearing shall be held pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), unless held in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 11400) as authorized by regulation of the department.  licensing authority.  If the licensee or person cited fails to submit a written request for a hearing within 30 days from the date of service of the citation, the right to a hearing is waived and the citation shall be deemed a final order of the department  licensing authority  and is not subject to review by any court.
(d) After the exhaustion of the administrative and judicial review procedures, the department  a licensing authority  may apply to the appropriate superior court for a judgment in the amount of the administrative fine and an order compelling the cited person to comply with the order of the department.  licensing authority.  The application, which shall include a certified copy of the final order of the department,  licensing authority,  shall constitute a sufficient showing to warrant the issuance of the judgment and order.
(e) The department  A licensing authority  may recover from the licensee or person who was the subject of the citation costs of investigation and enforcement, which may include reasonable attorney’s fees for the services rendered. If the department  licensing authority  recovers costs from a licensee, the department  licensing authority  shall recover the costs pursuant to Section 26031.1. 125.3. 
(f) Fines shall be paid within 30 days of service of a citation by the department.  licensing authority.  Failure to pay a fine assessed pursuant to this section within 30 days of the date of service of the citation, unless the citation is being appealed, shall constitute a separate violation under this division subject to additional action by the department. The department  a licensing authority. A licensing authority  shall not renew or grant a license to a person who was the subject of the fine until that person pays the fine.
(g) All moneys collected pursuant to this section associated with the recovery of investigation and enforcement costs shall be deposited into the Cannabis Control Fund. Any administrative fine amount shall be deposited directly into the Cannabis Fines and Penalties Account and shall be distributed pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 26210.