Code Section

81012.  

(a) Enforcement of the approved state plan shall comply with Section 297B(e) of the federal Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (added by Section 10113 of the federal Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334)).

(b) A grower of industrial hemp, established agricultural research institution, or hemp breeder that the secretary determines has violated a provision of this division listed in the approved state plan or an additional requirement listed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 81015, including, but not limited to, by failing to provide a legal description of the land on which industrial hemp is grown, failing to register as required, or exceeding the 0.3 percent THC limit established in this division, shall be subject to the following consequences:

(1) For a negligent violation, as determined by the secretary, the consequences under state laws for a violation of this division shall be as follows:

(A) If the violation is not a repeat violation subject to subparagraph (B), the grower of industrial hemp, established agricultural research institution, or hemp breeder shall comply with a corrective action plan, to be established by the secretary, that includes both of the following:

(i) A reasonable date by which the grower of industrial hemp, established agricultural research institution, or hemp breeder shall correct the negligent violation.

(ii) A requirement that the grower of industrial hemp, established agricultural research institution, or hemp breeder shall periodically report to the secretary, for a period of at least the next two calendar years, on its compliance with this division or the approved state plan.

(B) A grower of industrial hemp, established agricultural research institution, or hemp breeder that commits a negligent violation three times in a five-year period shall be ineligible to participate in the industrial hemp program for a period of five years beginning on the date of the finding of the third violation.

(C) A grower of industrial hemp, established agricultural research institution, or hemp breeder shall not, as a result of a negligent violation, be subject to any criminal enforcement action by the state or a local government.

(2) For a violation committed intentionally, or with recklessness or gross negligence, the secretary shall immediately report the grower of industrial hemp, established agricultural research institution, or hemp breeder to the Attorney General of the United States and the Attorney General of this state, as applicable.

(c) This section shall become operative as of the date on which a state plan for California is approved pursuant to Section 297B of the federal Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (added by Section 10113 of the federal Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-334)).