Code Section

3273.  

(a) It is unlawful for a person, firm, corporation, or association that is a nongovernmental entity and contracts to perform public health and safety labor or services for a public agency to display on a vehicle a logo of the public agency that reasonably could be interpreted or construed as implying that the labor or services are being provided by employees of the public agency, unless the vehicle conspicuously displays a statement indicating that the contractor is the service provider, contractor, or other appropriate descriptor, such as “SERVICE PROVIDED BY:” or “CONTRACTED BY:”, immediately followed by all of the following:

(1) The logo and the name of the person, firm, corporation, or association that is the nongovernmental entity providing the public health and safety labor or services for the public agency.

(2) The state, or if outside of the United States, the country where the nongovernmental entity’s controlling person, firm, corporation, or association is legally incorporated, organized, or formed.

(b) It is unlawful for a person or an employee of a person, firm, corporation, or association that is a nongovernmental entity and contracts to perform public health and safety labor or services for a public agency to wear a uniform bearing a logo of the public agency that reasonably could be interpreted or construed as implying that the labor or services are being provided by employees of the public agency, unless the uniform conspicuously displays the logo and the name of the person, firm, corporation, or association that is the nongovernmental entity providing the labor or services for the public agency.

(c) The disclosures required pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) shall apply to all labor or services provided pursuant to a contract entered into on or after January 1, 2015.

(d) (1) It is unlawful for a public agency to require, through a contract with a person, firm, corporation, or association that is a nongovernmental entity providing public health and safety labor or services, a person or employee of the nongovernmental entity to wear a badge containing the logo of the public agency.

(2) It is unlawful for a person, firm, corporation, or association that is a nongovernmental entity contracting to perform public health and safety labor or services for a public agency to require a person or its employee to wear a badge containing the logo of the public agency.

(e) For the purposes of subdivision (b), an identifying mark affixed to a uniform as required by state or federal law, and a local agency regulating the activity of the person, firm, corporation, or association shall not be construed as implying that the labor or services are being provided by employees of the public agency.

(f) If a vehicle or uniform displays more than one logo referring to the public agency, then the required disclosure shall be placed near the largest logo referring to the public agency.

(g) The disclosure requirements in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply to uniforms or vehicles if the person, firm, corporation, or association that is the nongovernmental entity is providing the labor or services for a public agency under Article 3.3 (commencing with Section 2430) of Chapter 2 of Division 2 of the Vehicle Code.

(h) The disclosure requirements in subdivisions (a) and (b) shall not apply to a public agency vehicle utilized by the nongovernmental entity during a declared state or federal disaster, mass-casualty incident, or other incident that requires the use of state or federal resources when the public agency requires the use of the public agency vehicle.

(i) (1) Violations of this section shall be subject to the remedies provided in the Consumers Legal Remedies Act (Title 1.5 (commencing with Section 1750)).

(2) The duties, rights, and remedies provided in this section are in addition to any other duties, rights, and remedies provided by state law.

(j) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Conspicuously displays” means to display a disclosure on the exterior of a vehicle or uniform in the same location as the logo of the public agency, placed prominently as compared with other words, statements, or designs displayed in connection with the logo of the public agency. With respect to a uniform, “in the same location” includes, but is not limited to, a location on the opposing shoulder, pocket, or similar opposing location relative to the location of the logo of the public agency.

(2) “Logo” means a symbol, graphic, seal, emblem, insignia, trade name, brand name, or picture identifying a person, firm, corporation, association, or public agency. “Logo” shall not mean the name of a public agency used alone.

(3) “Public agency” means a state entity, a city, county, city and county, special district, or other political subdivision of the state.

(4) “Public health and safety labor or services” means fire protection services, rescue services, prehospital emergency medical services, hazardous material emergency response services, and ambulance services.