Amended in Assembly June 10, 2014

Amended in Assembly January 8, 2014

Amended in Assembly August 26, 2013

Amended in Assembly August 12, 2013

Amended in Assembly August 5, 2013

Senate BillNo. 445


Introduced by Senator Hill

February 21, 2013


An act to amendbegin delete Section 25299.43 ofend deletebegin insert Sections 25299.32, 25299.43, 25299.50, 25299.50.2, 25299.50.3, 25299.50.4, 25299.51, 25299.57, 25299.70, 25299.78, 25299.81, 25299.101, 25299.104, 25299.105, 25299.106, and 25299.107 of, and to add Sections 25292.05, 25299.50.6, 25299.71, 25299.80, 25299.80.5, 25299.80.6, and 25299.82 to,end insert the Health and Safety Code, relating tobegin delete underground storage tanksend deletebegin insert hazardous substances, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediatelyend insert.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 445, as amended, Hill. Underground storage tanks:begin delete petroleum: charges.end deletebegin insert hazardous substances: petroleum: groundwater and surface water contamination.end insert

begin insert

(1) Existing law provides for the regulation of underground storage tanks by the State Water Resources Control Board. Existing law requires underground storage tanks that are used to store hazardous substances and that are installed after January 1, 1984, to meet certain requirements, including that the primary containment be product tight and that the tank’s secondary containment meet specified standards. However, in lieu of these generally applied requirements, existing law authorizes underground storage tanks for motor vehicle fuels installed before January 1, 1997, to be designed and constructed in accordance with alternative requirements. Existing law imposes various monitoring, inspection, replacement, and upgrading requirements on underground storage tanks installed on or before January 1, 1984, and used for the storage of hazardous substances.

end insert
begin insert

This bill would require the owners or operators of these 2 types of underground storage tanks to permanently close them by December 31, 2020, or by December 31, 2018, if they are within 1,000 feet of a public drinking water well, unless the tanks meet specified requirements.

end insert
begin delete

Under

end delete

begin insert(2)end insertbegin insertend insertbegin insertUnderend insert existing law, the Barry Keene Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Trust Fund Act of 1989,begin insert which is repealed on January 1, 2016,end insert every owner of an underground storage tank is required to pay a storage fee for each gallon of petroleum placed in the tank. The fees are required to be deposited in the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund and the State Water Resources Control Board is authorized to expend the moneys in the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for various purposes, including the payment of claims to aid owners and operators of petroleum underground storage tanks who take corrective action to clean up unauthorized releases from those tanks, corrective actions undertaken by the board, a California regional water quality board, or a local agency, the cleanup and oversight of unauthorized releases at abandoned tank sites, and grants to small businesses to retrofit certain hazardous substance underground storage tanks.begin delete Existing law imposes a $0.001 charge per gallon of a petroleum placed in an underground storage tank until January 1, 2016, and repeals the act on that date.end delete Existing law also specifies that certain associated rights, obligations, and authorities that apply prior to the January 1, 2016, repeal date do not terminate until the moneys in the fund are exhausted. begin insertExisting law establishes, until July 1, 2016, the School District Account in the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund for the payment of claims filed by a school district that takes corrective action to clean up an unauthorized release from a petroleum underground storage tank.end insert

begin insertThis bill would extend the operation of the act and the School District Account until January 1, 2020. By extending the operation of the act, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by continuing the operation of certain crimes regarding the furnishing of information under penalty of perjury.end insert

begin delete

This

end delete

begin insertTheend insert bill wouldbegin insert, as of the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing more than 90 days after the effective date of this act,end insert require payment of an additional $0.006 per gallon of petroleumbegin insert stored in an underground storage tankend insert until January 1,begin delete 2016. This bill would constitute a change in state statute that would result in a taxpayer paying a higher tax within the meaning of Section 3 of Article XIII   A of the California Constitution, and thus would require for passage the approval of 2 /3 of the membership of each house of the Legislature.end deletebegin insert 2020. The bill would require $0.003 of that $0.006 to be expended only for transfer to the School District Account, for transfer to the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Financing Account, as specified below, or for transfer to the Site Cleanup Subaccount, which this bill would establish in the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund. The board would be authorized to expend the funds from that subaccount, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to pay for reasonable and necessary expenditures that the board, a regional board, or a local agency incurs to identify the source of surface or groundwater contamination, or to remediate the harm or threat of harm to human health, safety, and the environment caused by existing or threatened surface or groundwater contamination, or for the board to make grants for the reasonable and necessary costs of actions to remediate the harm or threat of harm to human health, safety, and the environment caused by existing or threatened surface or groundwater contamination, as specified . The bill would require the board to specify the information to be included in a grant application and would authorize the board to adopt procedures to implement the grant program.end insert

begin insert

(3) Existing law establishes the Underground Storage Tank Petroleum Contamination Orphan Site Cleanup Fund in the State Treasury, for expenditure by the board, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the costs of response actions to remediate the harm caused by a petroleum contamination from an underground storage tank. Existing law imposes specified requirements with regard to the expenditure of those moneys, including that the site meet the conditions of a brownfield, as defined.

end insert
begin insert

This bill would delete the requirement for the expenditure of funds from this fund that the site meet the conditions for a brownfield and would make other conforming changes.

end insert
begin insert

(4) Existing law prohibits the board from reimbursing a claim for corrective action costs that is received by the board more than 365 days after the date of issuance of a closure letter or after the issuance or activation of a letter of commitment, except as specified.

end insert
begin insert

This bill would prohibit the board from reimbursing a claim for a corrective action costs that is received by the board more than 2 years after the date the cost was incurred or more than 2 years after the date of issuance or activation of a letter of commitment, except as specified.

end insert
begin insert

(5) Existing law specifies that the costs incurred by the fund for corrective action and other expenses are to be recovered by the Attorney General, upon the request of the board.

end insert
begin insert

This bill would instead authorize the board to recover those costs.

end insert
begin insert

(6) The Barry Keene Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Trust Fund Act of 1989 requires an owner or operator to furnish, under penalty of perjury, any information on fees, financial responsibility, unauthorized releases, or corrective action as a local agency, regional board, or the state board may require.

end insert
begin insert

The bill would subject to a civil penalty a person that refuses to furnish that information. The bill would authorize the executive director of the board to permanently disqualify a person convicted of making a false statement to the board, or found civilly liable for specified conduct relating to any claim, from receiving any moneys from the fund, if the executive director makes one of a specified set of findings with regard to claimants. The bill would also impose a civil penalty upon a person that makes a misrepresentation in a claim submitted to the fund. The bill would require the Attorney General, upon the request of the board, to bring an action in superior court to impose these civil penalties and would authorize the executive director of the board to impose these civil penalties administratively.

end insert
begin insert

The bill would also provide that a person who knowingly makes or causes to be made a false statement, material misrepresentation, or false certification in support of a claim is punishable by a criminal fine or imprisonment, or by both that fine and imprisonment.

end insert
begin insert

The bill would authorize the board to review the imposition of civil penalties by the executive director in a specified manner.

end insert
begin insert

The bill would require that these fines and civil penalties be deposited into the fund. The bill would authorize the board to expend the moneys in the fund to pay for the expenditures of the board associated with investigation and enforcement under the act. The bill would also make conforming changes with regard to this enforcement.

end insert
begin insert

By creating a new crime with regard to the filing of claims, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

end insert
begin insert

The bill would also make conforming changes with regard to the amounts deposited in the fund, the purposes for which the money in the fund would be expended, and the continued existence, after the repeal of the act, of certain authority in the act to take specified legal actions. The board would be prohibited from accepting claim applications for reimbursement for corrective action costs or compensation of 3rd parties that are submitted to the fund after January 1, 2019, unless the board makes a specified finding, and would prohibit the board from accepting requests for reimbursement for those purposes after July 1, 2019.

end insert
begin insert

(7) Existing law requires owners and operators of underground storage tanks systems containing hazardous substances to maintain evidence of financial responsibility. Existing law also requires petroleum underground storage tanks to establish and maintain specified evidence of financial responsibility for taking corrective action and compensating 3rd parties for bodily injury and property damage arising from operating an underground storage tank, except that certain owners or operators eligible for payment of a claim from the fund are deemed in compliance with those financial responsibility requirements.

end insert
begin insert

This bill would allow all claimants to use the fund to establish and maintain evidence of financial responsibility for purposes of the requirements imposed upon petroleum underground storage tanks but would prohibit, on and after January 1, 2019, an owner or operator of a tank for which a permit is in effect from using the fund as a mechanism to demonstrate compliance with certain financial responsibility requirements and specified federal statutory requirements.

end insert
begin insert

(8) Existing law, until January 1, 2022, requires the board to conduct a loan program to assist small businesses to upgrade, replace, or remove tanks used for the purpose of storing petroleum to meet applicable local, state, or federal standards and to conduct a grant program to assist small businesses to comply with certain requirements imposed on those tanks with regard to specified testing and containment systems and enhanced leak detection. Existing law provides that the maximum amount that the board may grant an applicant is $50,000.

end insert
begin insert

This bill would expand the purposes for which the board may issue those grants and loans to include the upgrade, removal, or replacement of those tanks to meet specified requirements with regard to the permanent closure of underground storage tanks. The bill would increase the maximum amount that the board may grant an applicant to $70,000. The bill would authorize the board to waive certain permitting and other requirements for a grant applicant that is ineligible for a loan pursuant to the program and will remove a tank without replacing it.

end insert
begin insert

(9) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

end insert
begin insert

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

end insert
begin insert

(10) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

end insert

Vote: 23. Appropriation: begin deleteno end deletebegin insertyesend insert. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: begin deleteno end deletebegin insertyesend insert.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P6    1begin insert

begin insertSECTION 1.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25292.05 is added to the end insertbegin insertHealth and
2Safety Code
end insert
begin insert, to read:end insert

begin insert
3

begin insert25292.05.end insert  

(a) On or before December 31, 2018, the owner or
4operator of an underground storage tank shall permanently close
5that underground storage tank in accordance with Section 25298
6and the regulations adopted pursuant to that section, if the
7underground storage tank is located within 1,000 feet of a public
8drinking water well identified pursuant to Section 25292.4 and
9the underground storage tank meets either of the following
10conditions:

11(1) The underground storage tank is designed and constructed
12in accordance with paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of Section
1325291 and does not meet the requirements of paragraphs (1) to
14(6), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section 25291.

15(2) The underground storage tank was installed on or before
16January 1, 1984, and does not meet the requirements of paragraphs
17(1) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (a) of Section 25291.

18(b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a), on or before
19December 31, 2020, the owner or operator of an underground
20storage tank shall permanently close that underground storage
21tank in accordance with Section 25298 and the regulations adopted
22pursuant to that section, if the underground storage tank is
23described in either paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a).

end insert
24begin insert

begin insertSEC. 2.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.32 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
25amended to read:end insert

P7    1

25299.32.  

(a) (1) begin deleteClaimants who meet end deletebegin insertExcept as provided in
2subdivision (f), a claimant who meets any of the following
3requirements may use the fund to establish and maintain evidence
4of financial responsibility:end insert

5begin insert (2)end insertbegin insertend insertbegin insertA claimant who meetsend insert the qualifications of paragraph (1)
6of subdivision (b) of Section 25299.52 shall be deemed in
7 compliance with Section 25299.31 if the claimant is eligible for
8reimbursement from the fund pursuant to Sectionbegin delete 25299.54 andend delete
9begin insert 25299.54,end insert subdivision (d) ofbegin delete Sections 25299.57 andend deletebegin insert Section
1025299.57, and subdivision (b) of Sectionend insert
25299.58.

begin delete

11(2) For claimants who meet

end delete

12begin insert(3)end insertbegin insertend insertbegin insertIf a claimant meetsend insert the qualifications of paragraph (2) or (3)
13of subdivision (b) of Section 25299.52, the level of financial
14responsibility required to be obtained pursuant to Section 25299.31
15shall be at least five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each occurrence
16and at least five thousand dollars ($5,000) annual aggregate
17coverage for taking corrective action.

begin delete

18(3) For claimants who meet

end delete

19begin insert(4)end insertbegin insertend insertbegin insertIf a claimant meetsend insert the qualifications of paragraph (4) of
20subdivision (b) of Section 25299.52, the level of financial
21 responsibility required to be obtained pursuant to Section 25299.31
22shall be at least ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each occurrence,
23and at least ten thousand dollars ($10,000) annual aggregate
24coverage for taking corrective action.

25(b) The level of financial responsibility required to be obtained
26pursuant to Section 25299.31 for each occurrence for bodily injury
27and property damage shall be in the amount specified by the board
28in the regulations adopted pursuant to Section 25299.77.

29(c) The level of financial responsibility required to be obtained
30pursuant to Section 25299.31 shall be in the amount specified by
31the board for annual aggregate coverage for both corrective action
32and bodily injury and property damage.

33(d) The board may periodically increase the minimum level of
34financial responsibility specified in subdivision (a) upon its
35determination that private insurance is available and affordable.

36(e) The changes made to this section bybegin delete the act adding this
37subdivisionend delete
begin insert Chapter 1191 of the Statutes of 1994end insert shall apply to all
38claimants with claims, or portions of claims, for corrective action
39at sites that have not been completed, and for which reimbursement
40by the fund has not been fully paid by the board.

begin insert

P8    1(f) (1) On and after January 1, 2019, an owner or operator of
2a tank for which a permit that is issued pursuant to Section 25284
3is in effect shall not use the fund as a mechanism to demonstrate
4compliance with the financial responsibility requirements of
5Sections 25292.2 and 25299.31 and with the federal act.

end insert
begin insert

6(2) On or before December 31, 2018, an owner or operator who
7previously used the fund as a mechanism to demonstrate
8compliance with financial responsibility requirements shall submit,
9to the local agency that issued the permit for the operation of the
10tank pursuant to Section 25284, evidence of the alternative
11financial responsibility mechanism that will be used, on and after
12January 1, 2019, to comply with Sections 25292.2 and 25299.31
13and with the federal act.

end insert
14begin insert

begin insertSEC. 3.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.43 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
15amended to read:end insert

16

25299.43.  

(a) To implement the changes to this chapter made
17by Chapter 1191 of the Statutes of 1994, and consistent with
18Section 25299.40, effective January 1, 1995, every owner subject
19to Section 25299.41 shall pay a storage fee of one mill ($0.001)
20for each gallon of petroleum placed in an underground storage
21tank that the person owns, in addition to the fee required by Section
2225299.41.

23(b) On and after January 1, 1996, the storage fee imposed under
24subdivision (a) shall be increased by two mills ($0.002) for each
25gallon of petroleum placed in an underground storage tank.

26(c) On and after January 1, 1997, the storage fee increased under
27subdivision (b) shall be increased by an additional three mills
28 ($0.003) for each gallon of petroleum placed in an underground
29storage tank.

30(d) On and after January 1, 2005, the storage fee increased under
31subdivision (c) shall be increased by an additional one mill ($0.001)
32for each gallon of petroleum placed in an underground storage
33tank.

34(e) On and after January 1, 2006, the storage fee increased under
35subdivision (d) shall be increased by an additional one mill
36($0.001) for each gallon of petroleum placed in an underground
37storage tank.

38(f) On and after January 1, 2010, the storage fee increased under
39subdivision (e) shall be increased by an additional six mills
40($0.006) for each gallon of petroleum placed in an underground
P9    1storage tank. The increase provided for in this subdivision shall
2be effective until January 1, 2014, at which time, the fee shall
3revert back to the fee pursuant to subdivision (e).

begin insert

4(g) (1) On and after the first day of the first calendar quarter
5commencing 90 days after the effective date of the act adding this
6paragraph, the storage fee increased under subdivision (e) shall
7be increased by an additional six mills ($0.006) for each gallon
8of petroleum placed in an underground storage tank. The increase
9provided for in this subdivision shall be effective until January 1,
102020, at which time the fee shall revert back to the fee established
11pursuant to subdivision (e).

end insert
begin insert

12(2) Three mills ($0.003) of the six mills ($0.006) for each gallon
13of petroleum placed in an underground storage tank collected
14pursuant to this subdivision shall be available for expenditure by
15the board only for purposes provided in subdivision (o) of Section
16 25299.51.

end insert
begin delete

17(g)

end delete

18begin insert(h)end insert The fee imposed under this section shall be paid to the State
19Board of Equalization under Part 26 (commencing with Section
2050101) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code in the
21same manner as, and consistent with, the fees imposed under
22Section 25299.41.

begin delete

23(h)

end delete

24begin insert(i)end insert The State Board of Equalization shall amend the regulations
25adopted under Section 25299.41 to carry out this section.

26begin insert

begin insertSEC. 4.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.50 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
27amended to read:end insert

28

25299.50.  

(a) The Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund
29is hereby created in the State Treasury. The money in the fund
30may be expended by the board, upon appropriation by the
31Legislature, for purposes of this chapter. From time to time, the
32board may modify existing accounts or create accounts in the fund
33or other funds administered by the board, which the board
34determines are appropriate or necessary for proper administration
35of this chapter.

36(b) begin deleteExcept for funds transferred to the Drinking Water Treatment
37and Research Fund created pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section
38116367, all end delete
begin insertAll end insertof the following amounts shall be deposited in the
39fund:

P10   1(1) Money appropriated by the Legislature for deposit in the
2fund.

3(2) The fees, interest, and penalties collected pursuant to Article
45 (commencing with Section 25299.40).

5(3) Notwithstanding Section 16475 of the Government Code,
6any interest earned upon the money deposited in the fund.

7(4) Any money recovered by the fund pursuant to Section
825299.70.

9(5) Any civilbegin insert and criminalend insert penalties collected by the board or
10regional board pursuant to Section 25299.76begin insert, 25299.78, 25299.80,
11or 25299.80.5end insert
.

begin insert

12(6) Money recovered as compensation for expenditures
13associated with investigations or enforcement actions pursuant to
14subdivision (j) or (n) of Section 25299.51.

end insert
begin insert

15(7) Money recovered to correct a previously overpaid
16expenditure issued pursuant to this chapter.

end insert

17(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any funds appropriated by
18the Legislature in the annual Budget Act for payment of a claim
19for the costs of a corrective action in response to an unauthorized
20release, that are encumbered for expenditure for a corrective action
21pursuant to a letter of credit issued by the board pursuant to
22subdivision (e) of Section 25299.57, but are subsequently not
23expended for that corrective action claim, may be reallocated by
24the board for payment of other claims for corrective action pursuant
25to Section 25299.57.

26begin insert

begin insertSEC. 5.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.50.2 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
27amended to read:end insert

28

25299.50.2.  

(a) The Underground Storage Tank Petroleum
29Contamination Orphan Site Cleanup Fund is hereby established
30in the State Treasury.

31(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the sum of ten
32million dollars ($10,000,000) is hereby transferred, for each of the
332008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11 fiscal years, from the
34Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund to the Underground
35Storage Tank Petroleum Contamination Orphan Site Cleanup Fund.

36(2) Available federal moneys may be deposited in the
37Underground Storage Tank Petroleum Contamination Orphan Site
38Cleanup Fund. The amount transferred pursuant to paragraph (1)
39in a fiscal year shall be reduced by the amount of federal moneys
P11   1deposited in the Underground Storage Tank Petroleum
2Contamination Orphan Site Cleanup Fund in that fiscal year.

3(c) The board may expend the moneys in the Underground
4Storage Tank Petroleum Contamination Orphan Site Cleanup Fund,
5upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the costs of response
6actions to remediate the harm caused bybegin delete aend delete petroleumbegin delete contamination,
7including contamination caused by a refined product of petroleum
8or a petroleum derivative,end delete
begin insert contaminationend insert at a site that meets all of
9the following conditions:

begin delete

10(1) The site meets the conditions described in paragraph (2) of
11subdivision (a) of Section 25395.20.

12(2)

end delete

13begin insert(1)end insert The petroleum contamination is the principal source of
14contamination at the site.

begin delete

15(3)

end delete

16begin insert(2)end insert The source of the petroleum contamination is, or was, an
17underground storage tank.

begin delete

18(4)

end delete

19begin insert(3)end insert A financially responsible party has not been identified to
20pay for remediation at the site.

begin delete

21(5)

end delete

22begin insert(4)end insert If the expenditure includes federal moneys deposited in the
23Underground Storage Tank Petroleum Contamination Orphan Site
24Cleanup Fund, the expenditure at the site is consistent with all
25applicable requirements for expenditure of the federal moneys.

26(d) Any funds in the Underground Storage Tank Petroleum
27Contamination Orphan Site Cleanup Fund that are not expended
28in the 2009-10, 2010-11, or 2011-12 fiscal years shall remain in
29the Underground Storage Tank Petroleum Contamination Orphan
30Site Cleanup Fund until they are encumbered.

31(e) Notwithstanding Section 16304.1 of the Government Code,
32a disbursement in liquidation of an encumbrance may be made
33before or during the four years following the last day the
34appropriation is available for encumbrance.

begin delete

35(f) A recipient of a grant that was awarded pursuant to former
36Section 25299.50.2, as that section read on December 31, 2007,
37and whose encumbrance under the grant was not liquidated within
38the time period prescribed in Section 16304.1 of the Government
39Code, may receive the undisbursed balance of the encumbrance
40from the Underground Storage Tank Petroleum Contamination
P12   1Orphan Site Cleanup Fund consistent with the terms of the grant
2until June 30, 2011.

end delete
3begin insert

begin insertSEC. 6.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.50.3 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
4amended to read:end insert

5

25299.50.3.  

(a) For purposes of this section, “school district”
6means a school district as defined in Section 80 of the Education
7Code, or a county office of education.

8(b) The School District Account is hereby created in the
9Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund, for expenditure by the
10board to pay a claim filed by a district that is a school district and
11has a priority based on paragraph (2), (3), or (4) of subdivision (b)
12of Section 25299.52. Notwithstanding Section 25299.52, in the
132009-10, 2010-11, and 2011-12 fiscal years, the board shall pay
14a claim filed by a district that is a school district and has a priority
15based on paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 25299.52
16only from funds appropriated from the School District Account.

17(c) (1) The sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) per year
18shall be transferred, in the 2009-10, 2010-11, and 2011-12 fiscal
19years, from the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund to the
20School District Account, for expenditure, upon appropriation by
21the Legislature, for the payment of claims filed by a district that
22is a school district with a priority based on paragraph (2), (3), or
23(4) of subdivision (b) of Section 25299.52. The ten million dollars
24($10,000,000) shall be transferred to the School District Account
25prior to allocating the remaining available funds to each priority
26ranking in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of subdivision (b) of
27Section 25299.52.

28(2) The board shall consult with the Department of Toxic
29Substances Control in allocating the funds transferred to the School
30District Account.

31(3) The board shall pay claims from a school district with a
32priority based on paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section
3325299.52 from the School District Account in the order of the date
34of the filing of the claim application to the Underground Storage
35Tank Cleanup Fund. In each of the fiscal years identified in
36subdivision (b), if the board estimates that money will be available
37in the School District Account after the board has allocated funding
38for all submitted claims from school districts with a priority based
39on paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 25299.52, School
40District Account funds may be used to fund school district claims
P13   1with a priority based on paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (b) of
2Section 25299.52.

3(d) Funds in the School District Account that are not expended
4in a fiscal year shall remain in the School District Account. Funds
5remaining in the School District Account on January 1,begin delete 2016,end deletebegin insert 2020,end insert
6 shall be transferred to the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup
7Fund.

8(e) The board shall include information on the expenditure of
9the funds transferred to the School District Account, as well as the
10amount of all claims filed by districts that are school districts and
11the amount of reimbursements made to districts that are school
12districts from the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund, in its
13annual report, and shall, in consultation with the Department of
14Toxic Substances Control, estimate the amount of funds needed
15to reimburse anticipated future claims by districts that are school
16districts. The board shall provide a copy of this report to the State
17Allocation Board and the State Department of Education.

18(f) This section does not affect the priority of a district that is a
19school district and has a priority based on paragraph (2) or (3) of
20subdivision (b) of Section 25299.52.

21(g) The board shall waive the requirements of paragraph (4) of
22subdivision (d) of Section 25299.57 for a claim that is reimbursed
23from the School District Account pursuant to this section, if the
24superintendent of the school district receiving the reimbursement
25certifies to the board that petroleum was not delivered on or after
26January 1, 2003, to the tank that is the subject of the claim or that
27the tank was removed before January 1, 2003.

28(h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,begin delete 2016,end delete
29begin insert 2020,end insert and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
30that is enacted before January 1,begin delete 2016,end deletebegin insert 2020,end insert deletes or extends
31that date.

32begin insert

begin insertSEC. 7.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.50.4 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
33amended to read:end insert

34

25299.50.4.  

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the board
35and the Department of Toxic Substances Control, using information
36gathered and reported pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section
3725299.50.3, propose changes to Section 25299.50.3 that may be
38necessary to ensure that adequate funds are available to reimburse
39anticipated future claims by districts that are school districts and
P14   1have a priority based on paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section
225299.52.

3(b) This section shall remain in effect only until July 1,begin delete 2014,end delete
4begin insert 2018,end insert and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
5that is enacted before July 1,begin delete 2014,end deletebegin insert 2018,end insert deletes or extends that
6date.

7begin insert

begin insertSEC. 8.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.50.6 is added to the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety
8Code
end insert
begin insert, to read:end insert

begin insert
9

begin insert25299.50.6.end insert  

(a) The Site Cleanup Subaccount is hereby
10established in the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund.

11(b) The board may expend the funds in the Site Cleanup
12Subaccount, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the
13following purposes:

14(1) To pay for reasonable and necessary expenditures that the
15board, a regional board, or a local agency incurs to identify the
16source of surface or groundwater contamination.

17(2) To pay for reasonable and necessary expenditures that the
18board, a regional board, or a local agency incurs to remediate
19the harm or threat of harm to human health, safety, and the
20environment caused by existing or threatened surface or
21groundwater contamination. The board shall consider the following
22factors when approving expenditures for specific locations:

23(A) The degree to which human health, safety, and the
24environment are threatened by contamination at the location.

25(B) Whether the location is located in a small or financially
26disadvantaged community.

27(C) The cost and potential environmental benefit of the
28investigation or cleanup.

29(D) Whether there are other potential sources of funding for
30the investigation or cleanup.

31(E) Any other information the board identifies as necessary for
32consideration.

33(3) To issue grants pursuant to this section for the reasonable
34and necessary costs of actions to remediate the harm or threat of
35harm to human health, safety, and the environment caused by
36existing or threatened surface or groundwater contamination at
37a location that meets both of the following conditions:

38(A) The board, a regional board, or local agency requires the
39responsible parties to undertake or contract for investigation or
40cleanup, pursuant to an oral or written order, directive,
P15   1notification, or approval issued pursuant to Section 25296.10, or
2pursuant to a cleanup and abatement order issued under Section
313304 of the Water Code. The board may waive this requirement
4if the board finds that it is infeasible for an order to be issued
5before initiation of remediation.

6(B) The responsible parties lack sufficient financial resources
7to pay for the required response actions.

8(c) At least annually, the board shall review grant applications
9and adopt a list of applicants to be awarded grants pursuant to
10paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). In addition to the conditions
11specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), the board shall
12consider all of the following factors when awarding grants:

13(1) The degree to which human health, safety, and the
14environment are threatened by surface water or groundwater
15contamination at the location.

16(2) Whether the location is located in a small or financially
17disadvantaged community.

18(3) The cost and potential environmental benefit of the
19investigation or cleanup.

20(4) Whether there are other potential sources of funding for the
21 investigation or cleanup.

22(5) Any other information the board identifies as necessary for
23consideration.

24(d) (1) The board shall specify the information that shall be
25included in a grant application, consistent with this section,
26including, but not limited to, a provision requiring the applicant
27to make a sworn verification of the information in the application
28to the best of the applicant’s knowledge.

29(2) The board may adopt procedures to implement this section.

30(3) The board shall post any procedures or information
31requirements adopted pursuant to this section on its Internet Web
32site.

33(e) (1) The recipient of grant moneys shall expend those funds
34only for the reasonable costs necessary to protect human health,
35safety, and the environment, incurred on or after the effective date
36of the act adding this section.

37(2) The board shall not issue a grant for any costs for which
38the applicant has been, or will be, paid by another source.

39(3) The board may terminate a grant and may bar the applicant
40from receiving any future grants from the Site Cleanup Subaccount
P16   1if the board finds that the applicant has made a misrepresentation
2or false claim.

3(f) (1) Any funds in the Site Cleanup Subaccount that are not
4expended in a fiscal year shall remain in the subaccount until they
5are encumbered.

6(2) Notwithstanding Section 16304.1 of the Government Code,
7a disbursement in liquidation of an encumbrance may be made
8before or during the four years following the last day the
9appropriation is available for encumbrance.

10(g) The Attorney General may recover the actual, reasonable
11costs of investigation or cleanup undertaken pursuant to this
12section in a civil action, upon request from the board, from any
13responsible party. All money recovered by the Attorney General
14pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the fund.

end insert
15begin insert

begin insertSEC. 9.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.51 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
16amended to read:end insert

17

25299.51.  

The board may expend the money in the fund for
18all the following purposes:

19(a) In addition to the purposes specified in subdivisions (c), (d),
20and (e), for the costs of implementing this chapter and for
21implementing Section 25296.10 for a tank that is subject to this
22chapter.

23(b) To pay for the administrative costs of the State Board of
24Equalization in collecting the fee imposed by Article 5
25(commencing with Section 25299.40).

26(c) To pay for the reasonable and necessary costs of corrective
27action pursuant to Section 25299.36, up to one million five hundred
28thousand dollars ($1,500,000) per occurrence. The Legislature
29may appropriate the money in the fund for expenditure by the
30board, without regard to fiscal year, for prompt action in response
31to any unauthorized release.

32(d) To pay for the costs of an agreement for the abatement of,
33and oversight of the abatement of, an unauthorized release of
34hazardous substances from underground storage tanks, by a local
35agency, as authorized by Section 25297.1 or by any other provision
36of law, except that, for the purpose of expenditure of these funds,
37only underground storage tanks, as defined in Section 25299.24,
38shall be the subject of the agreement.

39(e) To pay for the costs of cleanup and oversight of unauthorized
40releases at abandoned tank sites. The board shall not expend more
P17   1than 25 percent of the total amount of money collected and
2deposited in the fund annually for the purposes of this subdivision
3and subdivision (h).

4(f) To pay claims pursuant to Section 25299.57.

5(g) To pay, upon order of the Controller, for refunds pursuant
6to Part 26 (commencing with Section 50101) of Division 2 of the
7Revenue and Taxation Code.

8(h) To pay for the reasonable and necessary costs of corrective
9action pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 25296.10, in response
10to an unauthorized release from an underground storage tank
11subject to this chapter.

12(i) To pay claims pursuant to Section 25299.58.

13(j) To pay for expenditures by the board associated with
14discovering violations of, and enforcing, or assisting in the
15enforcement of, the requirements of Chapter 6.7 (commencing
16with Section 25280) with regard to petroleum underground storage
17tanks.

18(k) For transfer to the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank
19Financing Account, for purposes of Chapter 6.76 (commencing
20with Section 25299.100).

begin insert

21(l) Upon repeal of Chapter 6.76 (commencing with Section
2225299.100), to pay for expenditures authorized by subdivision (b)
23of Section 25299.117 as that section reads as of December 31,
242021.

end insert
begin insert

25(m) For transfer to the Site Cleanup Subaccount to pay for
26expenditures by the board pursuant to Section 25299.50.6,
27including costs for regulatory oversight of sites funded pursuant
28to that section.

end insert
begin insert

29(n) To pay for reasonable and necessary expenditures by the
30board associated with discovering violations of and enforcing, or
31assisting in the enforcement of, the requirements of this chapter,
32including actions relating to the submission of false information
33to the fund.

end insert
begin insert

34(o) (1) For transfer to the School District Account to pay for
35expenditures by the board pursuant to Section 25299.50.3 or for
36transfer pursuant to subdivision (k) or (m).

end insert
begin insert

37(2) This subdivision shall apply only to the moneys collected
38pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 25299.43.

end insert
39begin insert

begin insertSEC. 10.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.57 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
40amended to read:end insert

P18   1

25299.57.  

(a) If the board makes the determination specified
2in subdivision (d), the board may only pay for the costs of a
3corrective action that exceed the level of financial responsibility
4required to be obtained pursuant to Section 25299.32, but not more
5than one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) for
6each occurrence. In the case of an owner or operator who, as of
7January 1, 1988, was required to perform corrective action, who
8initiated that corrective action in accordance with Division 7
9(commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code or Chapter
106.7 (commencing with Section 25280), and who is undertaking
11the corrective action in compliance with waste discharge
12requirements or other orders issued pursuant to Division 7
13(commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code or Chapter
146.7 (commencing with Section 25280), the owner or operator may
15apply to the board for satisfaction of a claim filed pursuant to this
16article. The board shall notify claimants applying for satisfaction
17of claims from the fund of eligibility for reimbursement in a prompt
18and timely manner and that a letter of credit or commitment that
19will obligate funds for reimbursement shall follow the notice of
20eligibility as soon thereafter as possible.

21(b) (1) For claims eligible for reimbursement pursuant to
22subdivision (c) of Section 25299.55, the claimant shall submit the
23actual cost of corrective action to the board, which shall either
24approve or disapprove the costs incurred as reasonable and
25necessary. At least 15 days before the board proposes to disapprove
26the reimbursement of corrective action costs that have been
27incurred on the grounds that the costs were unreasonable or
28unnecessary, the board shall issue a notice advising the claimant
29and the lead agency of the proposed disallowance, to allow review
30and comment.

31(2) The board shall not reject any actual costs of corrective
32action in a claim solely on the basis that the invoices submitted
33fail to sufficiently detail the actual costs incurred, if all of the
34following apply:

35(A) Auxiliary documentation is provided that documents to the
36board’s satisfaction that the invoice is for necessary corrective
37action work.

38(B) The costs of corrective action work in the claim are
39reasonably commensurate with similar corrective action work
P19   1performed during the same time period covered by the invoice for
2which reimbursement is sought.

3(C) The invoices include a brief description of the work
4performed, the date that the work was performed, the vendor, and
5the amount.

6(c) (1) For claims eligible for prepayment pursuant to
7subdivision (c) of Section 25299.55, the claimant shall submit the
8estimated cost of the corrective action to the board, which shall
9approve or disapprove the reasonableness of the cost estimate.

10(2) If the claim is for reimbursement of costs incurred pursuant
11to a performance-based contract, Article 6.5 (commencing with
12Section 25299.64) shall apply to that claim.

13(d) Except as provided in subdivision (j), a claim specified in
14subdivision (a) may be paid if the board makes all of the following
15findings:

16(1) There has been an unauthorized release of petroleum into
17the environment from an underground storage tank.

18(2) The claimant is required to undertake or contract for
19corrective action pursuant to Section 25296.10, under the federal
20act, or under Section 6973 of Title 42 of the United States Code,
21or, as of January 1, 1988, the claimant has initiated corrective
22action in accordance with Division 7 (commencing with Section
2313000) of the Water Code.

24(3) The claimant has complied with Section 25299.31.

25(4) (A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (F),
26the claimant has complied with the permit requirements of Chapter
276.7 (commencing with Section 25280). A claimant shall obtain a
28permit required by subdivision (a) of Section 25284 for the
29underground storage tank that is the subject of the claim when the
30claimant becomes subject to subdivision (a) of Section 25284 or
31when the applicable local agency begins issuing permits pursuant
32to subdivision (a) of Section 25284, whichever occurs later.

33(B) A claimant who acquires real property on which an
34underground storage tank is situated and, despite the exercise of
35reasonable diligence, was unaware of the existence of the
36underground storage tank when the real property was acquired,
37has obtained a permit required by subdivision (a) of Section 25284
38for the underground storage tank that is the subject of the claim
39within a reasonable period, not to exceed one year, from when the
40claimant should have become aware of the existence of the
P20   1underground storage tank, or when the applicable local agency
2began issuing permits pursuant to Section 25284, whichever occurs
3later.

4(C) All claimants who file their claim on or after January 1,
52008, and who do not obtain a permit required by subdivision (a)
6of Section 25284 in accordance with subparagraph (A) or (B) may
7seek a waiver of the requirement to obtain a permit. The board
8shall waive the provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) as a
9condition for payment from the fund if the board finds all of the
10following:

11(i) The claimant was unaware of the permit requirement, and
12upon becoming aware of the permit requirement, the claimant
13complies with either subdivision (a) of Section 25284 or Section
1425298 and the regulations adopted to implement those sections
15within a reasonable period, not to exceed one year, from when the
16claimant became aware of the permit requirement.

17(ii) Prior to submittal of the application to the fund, the claimant
18has complied with Section 25299.31 and has obtained and paid
19for all permits currently required by this paragraph.

20(iii) Prior to submittal of the application to the fund, the claimant
21has paid all fees, interest, and penalties imposed pursuant to Article
225 (commencing with Section 25299.40) of this chapter and Part
2326 (commencing with Section 50101) of Division 2 of the Revenue
24and Taxation Code for the underground storage tank that is the
25subject of the claim.

26(D) (i) A claimant exempted pursuant to subparagraph (C) and
27who has complied, on or before December 22, 1998, either with
28subdivision (a) of Section 25284 or Section 25298 and the
29regulations adopted to implement those sections, shall obtain a
30level of financial responsibility twice as great as the amount that
31the claimant is otherwise required to obtain pursuant to subdivision
32(a) of Section 25299.32, but not less than ten thousand dollars
33($10,000). All other claimants exempted pursuant to subparagraph
34(C) shall obtain a level of financial responsibility that is four times
35as great as the amount that the claimant is otherwise required to
36obtain pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 25299.32, but not
37less than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).

38(ii) The board may waive the requirements of clause (i) if the
39claimant can demonstrate that the conditions specified in clauses
40(i) to (iii), inclusive, of subparagraph (C) were satisfied prior to
P21   1the causing of any contamination. That demonstration may be
2made through a certification issued by the permitting agency based
3on a site evaluation and tank tests at the time of permit application
4or in any other manner acceptable to the board.

5(E) All claimants who file a claim before January 1, 2008, and
6who are not eligible for a waiver of the permit requirements
7pursuant to applicable statutes or regulations in effect on the date
8of the filing of the claim may resubmit a new claim pursuant to
9subparagraph (C) on or after January 1, 2008. The board shall rank
10all claims resubmitted pursuant to subparagraph (C) lower than
11all claims filed before January 1, 2008, within their respective
12priority classes specified in subdivision (b) of Section 25299.52.

13(F) The board shall waive the provisions of subparagraph (A)
14as a condition for payment from the fund for a claimant who filed
15his or her claim on or after January 1, 2008, and before July 1,
162009, but is not eligible for a waiver of the permit requirement
17pursuant to the regulations adopted by the board in effect on the
18date of the filing of the claim, and who did not obtain or apply for
19a permit required by subdivision (a) of Section 25284, if the board
20finds all of the following:

21(i) The claim is filed pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision
22(h) of Section 25299.54 and the claim otherwise satisfies the
23eligibility requirements of that paragraph.

24(ii) The claimant became the owner or de facto owner of an
25underground storage tank prior to December 22, 1998.

26(iii) The claimant did not, and does not, operate the underground
27storage tank.

28(iv) Within three years after becoming the owner or de facto
29owner of the underground storage tank but not after December 22,
301998, the claimant caused the underground storage tank to be
31removed and closed in accordance with applicable law, and
32commenced no later than December 22, 1998, to perform corrective
33action pursuant to Section 25296.10 of this code or pursuant to
34Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code.

35(G) The board shall rank all claims submitted pursuant to
36subparagraph (F) in their respective priority classes specified in
37subdivision (b) of Section 25299.52 in the order in which the claims
38are received by the board, but subsequent to any claim filed on a
39previous date in each of those priority classes.

P22   1(H) For purposes of clauses (ii) and (iv) of subparagraph (F),
2“de facto owner of an underground storage tank” means a person
3who purchases or otherwise acquires real property, as defined in
4subparagraph (D) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h) of Section
525299.54, and has actual possession of, and control over, an
6underground storage tank that has been abandoned by its previous
7owner.

8(5) The board has approved either the costs incurred for the
9corrective action pursuant to subdivision (b) or the estimated costs
10for corrective action pursuant to subdivision (c).

11(6) The claimant has paid all fees, interest, and penalties imposed
12pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 29299.40) and
13Part 26 (commencing with Section 50101) of Division 2 of the
14Revenue and Taxation Code for the underground storage tank that
15is the subject of the claim.

16(e) The board shall provide the claimant, whose cost estimate
17has been approved, a letter of commitment authorizing payment
18of the costs from the fund.

19(f) The claimant may submit a request for partial payment to
20cover the costs of corrective action performed in stages, as
21approved by the board.

22(g) (1) A claimant who submits a claim for payment to the
23board shall submit multiple bids for prospective costs as prescribed
24in regulations adopted by the board pursuant to Section 25299.77.

25(2) A claimant who submits a claim to the board for the payment
26of professional engineering and geologic work shall submit
27multiple proposals and fee estimates, as required by the regulations
28adopted by the board pursuant to Section 25299.77. The claimant’s
29selection of the provider of these services is not required to be
30based on the lowest estimated fee, if the fee estimate conforms
31with the range of acceptable costs established by the board.

32(3) A claimant who submits a claim for payment to the board
33for remediation construction contracting work shall submit multiple
34bids, as required in the regulations adopted by the board pursuant
35to Section 25299.77.

36(4) Paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) do not apply to a tank owned or
37operated by a public agency if the prospective costs are for private
38professional services within the meaning of Chapter 10
39(commencing with Section 4525) of Division 5 of Title 1 of the
P23   1Government Code and those services are procured in accordance
2with the requirements of that chapter.

3(h) The board shall provide, upon the request of a claimant,
4assistance to the claimant in the selection of contractors retained
5by the claimant to conduct reimbursable work related to corrective
6actions. The board shall develop a summary of expected costs for
7common corrective actions. This summary of expected costs may
8be used by claimants as a guide in the selection and supervision
9of consultants and contractors.

10(i) (1) To the extent funding is available, the board shall pay,
11within 60 days from the date of receipt of an invoice of
12expenditures, all costs specified in the work plan developed
13pursuant to Section 25296.10, and all costs that are otherwise
14necessary to comply with an order issued by a local, state, or
15federal agency.

16(2) If corrective action costs, third-party compensation costs,
17or regulatory technical assistance costs submitted by a claimant
18are approved for reimbursement by the board but funding is not
19available for payment to the claimant at the time of approval, the
20board shall reimburse carrying costs incurred by the claimant after
21November 7, 2008, but before June 30, 2010, subject to all of the
22following limitations:

23(A) The reimbursement for carrying costs shall not exceed the
24carrying costs actually incurred by the claimant from the date the
25corrective action costs, third-party compensation costs, or
26regulatory technical assistance costs are approved for payment by
27the board until the date that a check for the reimbursement request
28is issued by the Controller.

29(B) The reimbursement for carrying costs shall not exceed an
30amount equivalent to a maximum annual percentage rate of 7
31percent as applied to the amount approved for reimbursement and
32for the period calculated pursuant to subparagraph (A).

33(C) The board shall not reimburse carrying costs that amount
34to less than one hundred dollars ($100) per reimbursement request.

35(D) The board shall not reimburse carrying costs that exceed 9
36percent of the total amount of costs approved for the reimbursement
37to which the carrying costs apply.

38(E) A claimant may submit a request for reimbursement of
39carrying costs after receipt of fund reimbursement for the corrective
40action costs, third-party compensation costs, or regulatory technical
P24   1assistance costs to which the carrying costs apply. Additional
2carrying costs associated with a reimbursement request for carrying
3costs submitted pursuant to this paragraph are not eligible for
4payment.

5(F) This paragraph does not apply to tank owners or operators
6that are not described in paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of subdivision
7(b) of Section 25299.52.

8(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2), “carrying cost” means
9the interest expense incurred by a claimant to acquire money to
10pay costs approved for reimbursement by the board but for which
11reimbursement is delayed because funds are unavailable.

12(j) (1) The board shall pay a claim of not more than three
13thousand dollars ($3,000) per occurrence for regulatory technical
14assistance to an owner or operator who is otherwise eligible for
15reimbursement under this chapter.

16(2) For the purposes of this subdivision, regulatory technical
17assistance is limited to assistance from a person, other than the
18claimant, in the preparation and submission of a claim to the fund.
19Regulatory technical assistance does not include assistance in
20connection with proceedings under Section 25296.40, 25299.39.2,
21or 25299.56 or any action in court.

22(k) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the
23board shall pay a claim for the costs of corrective action to a person
24who owns property on which is located a release from a petroleum
25underground storage tank that has been the subject of a completed
26corrective action and for which additional corrective action is
27required because of additionally discovered contamination from
28the previous release, only if the person who carried out the earlier
29and completed corrective action was eligible for, and applied for,
30reimbursement pursuant to subdivision (b), and only to the extent
31that the amount of reimbursement for the earlier corrective action
32did not exceed the amount of reimbursement authorized by
33subdivision (a). Reimbursement to a claimant on a reopened site
34shall occur when funds are available, and reimbursement
35commitment shall be made ahead of any new letters of commitment
36to be issued, as of the date of the reopening of the claim, if funding
37has occurred on the original claim, in which case funding shall
38occur at the time it would have occurred under the original claim.

39(2) For purposes of this subdivision, a corrective action is
40completed when the local agency or regional board with
P25   1jurisdiction over the site or the board issues a closure letter pursuant
2to subdivision (g) of Section 25296.10.

3(l) (1) begin deleteClaims end deletebegin insertExcept as provided in subdivision (m), claims end insert
4for reimbursement of corrective action costs that are received by
5the board more than 365 days after the date of issuance of a closure
6letter issued pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 25296.10 or
7after the issuance or activation of a letter of commitment,
8whichever occurs later, shall not be reimbursed unless either of
9the following applies:

10(A) Claims for corrective action costs are submitted to the board
11pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (k).

12(B) The board finds that submission within the time period
13specified in this paragraph was beyond the claimant’s reasonable
14control, ongoing work is required for closure that will result in
15submission of claims beyond that time period, or that under the
16circumstances of the particular case, it would be unreasonable or
17inequitable to impose the time period specified in this paragraph.

18(2) This section does not limit or abrogate the rights of a
19claimant in disputing reimbursement determinations or suspension
20of claims.

21(3) For cases that have been issued a closure letter pursuant to
22subdivision (g) of Section 25296.10 prior to January 1, 2012, the
23board shall notify claimants of the 365-day filing deadline specified
24in paragraph (1) on or before March 31, 2012, or upon issuance
25of a letter of commitment, whichever occurs later.

begin insert

26(m) (1) The board shall not reimburse a claim for
27reimbursement of a corrective action cost that is received by the
28board more than two years after the date the cost was incurred or
29more than two years after the date of the issuance or activation of
30a letter of commitment, whichever occurs later, except under one
31or both of the following conditions:

end insert
begin insert

32(A) The board may reimburse a claim for a cost incurred before
33January 1, 2015, by a claimant that has an active letter of
34commitment on January 1, 2015, that was received by the board
35on or before December 31, 2015, or within two years of the date
36the cost was incurred, whichever occurs later.

end insert
begin insert

37(B) The executive director finds that submission within the time
38period specified in this subdivision was beyond the claimant’s
39reasonable control or that, under the circumstances of the
P26   1particular case, it would be unreasonable or inequitable to impose
2the time period specified in this subdivision.

end insert
begin insert

3(2) For the purposes of this subdivision, a cost is incurred on
4the date that the task to be paid for is completed.

end insert
5begin insert

begin insertSEC. 11.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.70 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
6amended to read:end insert

7

25299.70.  

(a) begin deleteAny end deletebegin insertThe board may recover any end insertcosts incurred
8and payable from the fund pursuant to subdivisions (c), (e),begin delete and
9(h)end delete
begin insert (h), and (n)end insert of Section 25299.51begin delete shall be recovered by the
10Attorney General, upon request of the board,end delete
from the owner or
11operator of the underground storage tank which released the
12petroleum and which is the subject of those costs or from any other
13responsible party.

14(b) The liability of an owner or operator shall be the full and
15total costs specified in subdivision (a) if the owner or operator has
16not complied with the requirements of Article 3 (commencing with
17Section 25299.30) or has violated Section 25296.10 or any
18corrective action order, directive, notification or approval order
19issued pursuant to this chapter, Chapter 6.7 (commencing with
20Section 25280), or Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000)
21of the Water Code. The liability of a responsible party who is not
22an owner or operator shall be the full and total costs specified in
23subdivision (a).

24(c) The amount of costs determined pursuant to this section
25shall be recoverable in a civil action. This section does not deprive
26a party of any defense the party may have.

27(d) All money recovered by thebegin delete Attorney Generalend deletebegin insert boardend insert pursuant
28to this section shall be deposited in the fund.

29(e) The amount of the costs constitutes a lien on the affected
30property upon service of a copy of the notice of lien on the owner
31and upon the recordation of a notice of lien, if the notice identifies
32the property on which the condition was abated, the amount of the
33lien, and the owner of record of the property, in the office of the
34county recorder of the county in which the property is located.
35Upon recordation, the lien shall have the same force, effect, and
36priority as a judgment lien, except that it attaches only to the
37property posted and described in the notice of lien, and shall
38continue for 10 years from the time of the recording of the notice,
39unless sooner released or otherwise discharged. Not later than 45
40days from the date of receipt of a notice of lien, the owner may
P27   1petition the court for an order releasing the property from the lien
2or reducing the amount of the lien. In that court action, the
3governmental agency that incurred the cleanup costs shall establish
4that the costs were reasonable and necessary. The lien may be
5foreclosed by an action brought by the board for a money judgment.

6begin insert

begin insertSEC. 12.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.71 is added to the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety
7Code
end insert
begin insert, to read:end insert

begin insert
8

begin insert25299.71.end insert  

(a) (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and
9(c), if a person is convicted under Section 25299.80.5 or is found
10to be civilly liable under Section 25299.78 or 25299.80, the
11executive director of the board may permanently disqualify that
12person from receiving any moneys from the fund. If the executive
13director of the board determines that the disqualified person is a
14contractor or consultant, a claimant shall not submit invoices to
15the fund for any work performed or directed by that person.

16(2) For purposes of this section, “contractor or consultant”
17means a person whose professional services are engaged to
18perform work that is the subject of a claim specified in paragraph
19(2) of subdivision (d) of Section 25299.57.

20(b) If the person convicted under Section 25299.80.5 or found
21to be civilly liable under Section 25299.78 or 25299.80 is a
22claimant, the executive director of the board may permanently
23disqualify the claimant from further participation in the fund, with
24respect to the fund claims that are the subject of that conviction
25under Section 25299.80.5 or that civil liability under Section
2625299.78 or 25299.80, only if the executive director makes a
27finding that the alleged violation is knowing, willful, or intentional.

28(c) If the person convicted under Section 25299.80.5 or found
29to be civilly liable under Section 25299.78 or 25299.80 is a
30claimant, the executive director of the board may permanently
31disqualify the claimant from further participation in the fund,
32including fund claims that are not the subject of that conviction
33under Section 25299.80.5 or civil liability under Section 25299.78
34or 25299.80, only if the executive director makes one of the
35following findings:

36(1) The alleged violation is knowing, willful, or intentional.

37(2) The claimant received a material economic benefit from the
38action which caused the violation.

P28   1(3) The alleged violation is chronic or the claimant is a
2recalcitrant violator, as determined pursuant to subdivision (g) of
3Section 13399 of the Water Code.

4(d) In addition to the requirements of subdivisions (b) and (c),
5in determining the extent to which a person, including, but not
6limited to, a claimant, convicted under Section 25299.80.5 or found
7to be civilly liable under Section 25299.78 or 25299.80 may be
8disqualified from receiving any money from the fund, including
9the extent to which the person may be reimbursed for pending or
10future claims from the fund, the executive director of the board,
11or the court, as the case may be, shall take into account the nature,
12circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation, the person’s
13ability to pay, any prior history of misrepresentations by the person
14to the board, or local agency, any economic benefits or savings
15that resulted or would have resulted from the false statement, and
16any other matters as justice may require.

end insert
17begin insert

begin insertSEC. 13.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.78 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
18amended to read:end insert

19

25299.78.  

(a) To carry out the purposes of this chapter, any
20authorized representative of the local agency, regional board, or
21board shall have the authority specified in Section 25185, with
22respect to any place where underground storage tanks are located,
23and in Section 25185.5, with respect to any real property which is
24within 2,000 feet of any place where underground storage tanks
25are located.

26(b) An owner or operator shall furnish, under penalty of perjury,
27any information on fees imposed pursuant to Article 5
28(commencing with Section 25299.40), financial responsibility,
29unauthorized releases, or corrective action as the local agency,
30regional board, or board may require.

begin insert

31(c) A person who fails or refuses to furnish information under
32subdivision (b) or furnishes false information to the fund is subject,
33in accordance with the requirements of subdivision (d), to civil
34liability of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each
35violation of this subdivision.

end insert
begin insert

36(d) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2), a claimant shall
37not be liable under subdivision (c) unless one of the following is
38established by the court, if the action is brought pursuant to
39subdivision (e), or the executive director, if the action is brought
40pursuant to subdivision (f):

end insert
begin insert

P29   1(A) The alleged violation is knowing, willful, or intentional.

end insert
begin insert

2(B) The claimant received a material economic benefit from the
3action which caused the alleged violation.

end insert
begin insert

4(C) The alleged violation is chronic or that the claimant is a
5recalcitrant violator, as determined pursuant to subdivision (g) of
6Section 13399 of the Water Code.

end insert
begin insert

7(2) If a claimant is in violation of subdivision (c), but does not
8meet any of the conditions specified in paragraph (1), the claimant
9may be held liable only if the board or an authorized representative
10of the board issues a notice to comply pursuant to Chapter 5.8
11(commencing with Section 13399) of Division 7 of the Water Code
12before an action is taken pursuant to subdivision (e) or (f).

end insert
begin insert

13(e) The Attorney General, upon request of the board, shall bring
14an action in superior court to impose the civil liability specified
15in subdivision (c).

end insert
begin insert

16(f) The executive director of the board may impose the civil
17liability specified in subdivision (c) administratively in the same
18manner as the executive director of the board is authorized to
19impose civil liability pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with
20section 13323) of Chapter 5 of Division 7 of the Water Code.

end insert
begin insert

21(g) In determining the amount of any civil liability imposed
22under this section, the executive director of the board, or the court,
23as the case may be, shall take into account the nature,
24circumstances, extent, and gravity of the false statement or refusal
25or failure to furnish information, the person’s ability to pay, any
26prior history by the person of misrepresentations to or
27noncooperation with the board or local agency, any economic
28benefits or savings that resulted or would have resulted from the
29false statement or refusal or failure to furnish information, and
30other matters as justice may require.

end insert
begin insert

31(h) Remedies under this section are in addition to, and do not
32supersede or limit, any other civil, administrative or criminal
33remedies.

end insert
begin insert

34(i) All funds collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited
35into the fund.

end insert
36begin insert

begin insertSEC. 14.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.80 is added to the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety
37Code
end insert
begin insert, to read:end insert

begin insert
38

begin insert25299.80.end insert  

(a) A person who makes a misrepresentation in any
39claim, including, but not limited to, a record, report, certification,
40application, invoice, form, or other document that is submitted to
P30   1the fund relating to a claim, is subject to civil liability of not more
2than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for each violation
3of this subdivision.

4(b) Except as provided in subdivision (d), the Attorney General,
5upon request of the state board, shall bring an action in superior
6court to impose the civil liability specified in subdivision (a).

7(c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), the executive director
8of the board may impose the civil liability specified in subdivision
9(a) administratively in the same manner as the executive director
10of the board is authorized to impose civil liability pursuant to
11Article 2.5 (commencing with section 13323) of Chapter 5 of
12Division 7 of the Water Code.

13(d) If the violation by a claimant of subdivision (a) is not
14knowing, willful, or intentional, the board or an authorized
15representative shall first issue a notice to comply pursuant to
16Chapter 5.8 (commencing with Section 13399) of Division 7 of the
17Water Code before an action may be taken pursuant to subdivision
18(b) or (c).

19(e) In determining the amount of civil liability imposed under
20this section, the executive director of the board, or the court, as
21the case may be, shall take into account the nature, circumstance,
22extent, and gravity of the violation, the person’s ability to pay, any
23prior history of misrepresentations by the person to the board or
24local agency, any economic benefits or savings that resulted or
25would have resulted from the false statement, and other matters
26as justice may require.

27(f) Remedies under this section are in addition to, and do not
28supersede or limit, any other civil, administrative, or criminal
29remedies.

30(g) All money collected pursuant to this section shall be
31deposited into the fund.

32(h) The board shall file a complaint with any applicable
33licensing board against any person licensed or otherwise regulated
34by that licensing board who is found to be liable under this section.

end insert
35begin insert

begin insertSEC. 15.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.80.5 is added to the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety
36Code
end insert
begin insert, to read:end insert

begin insert
37

begin insert25299.80.5.end insert  

(a) A person who knowingly makes or causes to
38be made any false statement, material misrepresentation, or false
39certification in support of any claim under this chapter, including,
40but not limited to, in an application, record, report, certification,
P31   1plan, invoice, form, or other document that is submitted, filed, or
2required to be maintained under this chapter for purposes of a
3claim, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more
4than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by imprisonment in a
5county jail for not more than one year, or in the state prison for
616 months, two, or three years, or by both that fine and
7imprisonment.

8(b) The Attorney General, upon request of the board, may bring
9an action in superior court to impose the criminal penalty specified
10in subdivision (a).

11(c) Remedies under this section are in addition to, and do not
12supersede or limit, any other civil or criminal remedies.

13(d) All funds collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited
14into the fund.

15(e) The board shall file a complaint with any applicable
16licensing board against any person licensed or otherwise regulated
17by that licensing board who is convicted under this section.

end insert
18begin insert

begin insertSEC. 16.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.80.6 is added to the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety
19Code
end insert
begin insert, to read:end insert

begin insert
20

begin insert25299.80.6.end insert  

An action by the executive director to impose civil
21liability under this chapter is subject to review by the board in the
22same manner as provided for the review by the State Water
23Resources Control Board of actions of a regional board under
24Section 13320 of the Water Code.

end insert
25begin insert

begin insertSEC. 17.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.81 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
26amended to read:end insert

27

25299.81.  

(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c),
28this chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1,begin delete 2016,end deletebegin insert 2020,end insert
29 and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, which
30is enacted before January 1,begin delete 2016,end deletebegin insert 2020,end insert deletes or extends that
31date.

32(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), Article 1 (commencing
33with Section 25299.10), Article 2 (commencing with Section
34 25299.11), and Article 4 (commencing with Section 25299.36)
35shall not be repealed and shall remain in effect on January 1,begin delete 2016end delete
36begin insert 2020end insert.

37(c) The repeal of certain portions of this chapter does not
38terminate any of the following rights, obligations, or authorities,
39or any provision necessary to carry out these rights and obligations:

P32   1(1) The filing and payment of claims against the fund, including
2the costs specified in subdivisions (c), (e), and (h) of Section
325299.51, claims filed under Section 25299.50.3, and claims for
4commingled plumes, as specified in Article 11 (commencing with
5Section 25299.90), until the moneys in the fund are exhausted.
6Upon exhaustion of the fund, any remaining claims shall be invalid.

7(2) The repayment of loans, outstanding as of January 1,begin delete 2016,end delete
8begin insert 2020,end insert due and payable to the board.

9(3) The recovery of moneys reimbursed to a claimant to which
10the claimant is not entitled, or the resolution of any cost recovery
11action.

12(4) The collection of unpaid fees that are imposed pursuant to
13Article 5 (commencing with Section 25299.40), as that article read
14on December 31,begin delete 2015,end deletebegin insert 2019,end insert or have become due before January
151,begin delete 2016,end deletebegin insert 2020,end insert including any interest or penalties that accrue before,
16on, or after January 1,begin delete 2016,end deletebegin insert 2020,end insert associated with those unpaid
17fees.

18(5) (A) The filing of an application for funds from, and the
19making of payments from, the Underground Storage Tank
20Petroleum Contamination Orphan Site Cleanup Fund pursuant to
21Section 25299.50.2, any action for the recovery of moneys paid
22pursuant to Section 25299.50.2 to which the recipient is not
23entitled, and the resolution of that cost recovery action.

24(B) Upon liquidation of funds in the Underground Storage Tank
25Petroleum Contamination Orphan Site Cleanup Fund, the obligation
26to make a payment from the Underground Storage Tank Petroleum
27Contamination Orphan Site Cleanup Fund is terminated.

28(6) (A) The payment of loans and grants, consistent with the
29terms of agreements that were effective prior to January 1,begin delete 2016,end delete
30begin insert 2020,end insert from the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund, pursuant
31to this chapter or the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank
32Financing Account pursuant to Chapter 6.76 (commencing with
33Section 25299.100). Upon exhaustion of the Underground Storage
34Tank Cleanup Fund, any remaining claims for payment of grants
35or loans shall be invalid.

36(B) The amount of money disbursed for grants and loans
37pursuant to Chapter 6.76 (commencing with Section 25299.100)
38shall not exceed the sum of following:

39(i) The amount that reverts to the Underground Storage Tank
40Cleanup Fund pursuant to Section 25299.111.

P33   1(ii) Amounts recovered through the repayment of loans granted
2pursuant to Chapter 6.76 (commencing with Section 25299.100).

3(iii) The resolution of any cost recovery action filed prior to
4January 1,begin delete 2016,end deletebegin insert 2020,end insert or the initiation of an action or other
5collection process to recover defaulted loan moneys due to the
6board or to recover money paid to a grant or loan recipient pursuant
7to Chapter 6.76 (commencing with Section 25299.100) to which
8the recipient is not entitled.

begin insert

9(7) (A) The imposition and collection of civil liability pursuant
10to Article 7 (commencing with Section 25299.70), as that article
11read on December 31, 2019.

end insert
begin insert

12(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed as extending or
13modifying any applicable statute of limitations.

end insert

14(d) The board shall continuously post and update on its Internet
15Web site, but at a minimum, annually on or before September 30,
16information that describes the status of the fund and shall make
17recommendations, when appropriate, to improve the efficiency of
18the program.

19begin insert

begin insertSEC. 18.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.82 is added to the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety
20Code
end insert
begin insert, to read:end insert

begin insert
21

begin insert25299.82.end insert  

To ensure that the phase out of the Underground
22Storage Tank Cleanup Fund program, as provided in Section
2325299.81, is achieved in an orderly manner that enables owners
24and operators to maintain continuous coverage for financial
25responsibility obligations required by Sections 25292.2 and
2625299.31 and the federal act, the board shall take the following
27actions:

28(a) The board shall not accept claim applications submitted to
29the fund pursuant to Section 25299.57 or 25299.58 after January
301, 2019, unless the board finds that the unauthorized release that
31is the subject of the claim was discovered before January 1, 2019,
32and the submission of a claim application by that date was beyond
33the claimant’s reasonable control.

34(b) The board shall not accept requests for reimbursements
35submitted to the fund pursuant to Section 25299.57 or 25299.58
36after July 1, 2019.

end insert
37begin insert

begin insertSEC. 19.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.101 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
38amended to read:end insert

39

25299.101.  

(a) The board shall conduct a loan program
40pursuant to this chapter, to assist small businesses in upgrading,
P34   1replacing, or removing tanks to meet applicable local, state, or
2federal standards. Loan funds may also be used for corrective
3actions, as defined in Section 25299.14.

4(b) The board shall also conduct a grant program, pursuant to
5this chapter, to assist small businesses tobegin delete comply with Sections
625284.1 and 25292.4end delete
begin insert upgrade, remove, or replace project tanks
7to comply with Section 25284.1, 25292.05, 25292.4, or 41954end insert
.

8begin insert

begin insertSEC. 20.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.104 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
9amended to read:end insert

10

25299.104.  

(a) The minimum amount that the board may loan
11an applicant is ten thousand dollars ($10,000), and the maximum
12amount that the board may loan an applicant is seven hundred fifty
13thousand dollars ($750,000).

14(b) The term of the loan shall be for a maximum of 20 years if
15secured by real property, and for 10 years if not secured by real
16property. The interest rate for loans shall be set at the rate equal
17to one-half of the most recent general obligation bond rate obtained
18by the office of the Treasurer at the time of the loan commitment.

19(c) Loan funds may be used to finance up to 100 percent of the
20costs necessary to upgrade, remove, or replace project tanks,
21including corrective actions, to meet applicable local, state, or
22federal standards, including, but not limited to, any design,
23construction, monitoring, operation, or maintenance requirements
24adopted pursuant tobegin delete Sectionsend deletebegin insert Sectionend insert 25284.1,begin insert 25292.05,end insert 25292.4,
25begin delete andend deletebegin insert orend insert 41954.

26(d) The board may charge a loan fee to loan applicants of up to
272 percent of the requested loan amount. The loan fee shall be
28deposited in the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Financing
29Account.

30(e) The inoperation or repeal of this chapter pursuant to Section
3125299.117 shall not extinguish a loan obligation and shall not
32impair the deed of trust or other collateral made pursuant to this
33chapter or the authority of the state to pursue appropriate action
34for collection.

35begin insert

begin insertSEC. 21.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.105 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
36amended to read:end insert

37

25299.105.  

(a) The board shall make grant funds available
38from the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Financing Account
39to eligible grant applicants who meet all of the following eligibility
40requirements:

P35   1(1) The grant applicant is a small business, pursuant to the
2following requirements:

3(A) The grant applicant meets the conditions for a small business
4concern as defined in Section 632 of Title 15 of the United States
5Code, and in the federal regulations adopted to implement that
6section, as specified in Part 121 (commencing with Section
7121.101) of Chapter I of Title 13 of the Code of Federal
8Regulations.

9(B) The grant applicant employs fewer than 20 full-time and
10part-time employees, is independently owned and operated, and
11is not dominant in its field of operation.

12(2) The principal office of the grant applicant is domiciled in
13the state and the officers of the grant applicant are domiciled in
14this state.

15(3) All tanks owned and operated by the grant applicant are
16subject to compliance with Chapter 6.7 (commencing with Section
1725280) and the regulations adopted pursuant to that chapter.

18(4) The facility where the project tank is located has sold at
19retail less than 900,000 gallons of gasoline annually for each of
20the two years preceding the submission of the grant application.
21The number of gallons sold shall be based upon taxable sales
22figures provided to the State Board of Equalization for that facility.

23(5) begin deleteThe end deletebegin insertExcept as provided in subdivision (b), the end insertgrant applicant
24owns or operates a tank that is in compliance with all of the
25following:

26(A) Section 41954.

27(B) Any of the following:

28(i) Section 25290.1.

29(ii) Section 25290.2.

30(iii) Section 25291.

31(iv) Subdivisions (d) and (e) of Section 25292.

32(C) Any regulation implementing the applicable sections
33required for compliance with subparagraphs (A) and (B).

34(6) The facility where the project tank is located was legally in
35business retailing gasoline after January 1, 1999.

begin insert

36(b) The board may grant a waiver from requirements of
37paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) if the board finds all of the
38following:

end insert
begin insert

39(1) The grant applicant owns or operates a project tank.

end insert
begin insert

P36   1(2) The project tank will be removed and will not be replaced
2with another tank.

end insert
begin insert

3(3) The grant applicant does not meet the requirements to obtain
4a loan pursuant to this chapter.

end insert
begin delete

5(b)

end delete

6begin insert(c)end insert Grant funds may only be used to pay the costs necessary to
7begin delete comply with the requirements of Section 25284.1, 25292.4,
825292.5, or 41954end delete
begin insert upgrade, remove, or replace project tanks to
9comply with Section 25284.1, 25292.05, 25292.4, 25292.5, or
1041954end insert
.

11begin insert

begin insertSEC. 22.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.106 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
12amended to read:end insert

13

25299.106.  

A complete grant application shall include all of
14the following information:

15(a) Evidence of eligibility.

16(b) The board shall develop a standard list of documents required
17of all applicants, and may also request from individual applicants
18additional financial and legal documents not provided on this list.

19(c) An explanation of the actions the applicant is required to
20take to comply with the requirements ofbegin delete Sectionsend deletebegin insert Sectionend insert 25284.1
21begin delete and 25292.4 or Section 41954end deletebegin insert, 25292.05, 25292.4, 25292.5, or
2241954end insert
.

23(d) A detailed cost estimate of the actions that are required to
24be completed for the project tanks to comply with applicable local,
25state, or federal standards, if applicable.

26(e) Any other information that the board determines to be
27necessary to include in an application form.

28begin insert

begin insertSEC. 23.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 25299.107 of the end insertbegin insertHealth and Safety Codeend insertbegin insert is
29amended to read:end insert

30

25299.107.  

(a) The minimum amount that the board may grant
31an applicant is three thousand dollars ($3,000), and the maximum
32amount that the board may grant an applicant isbegin delete fifty thousand
33dollars ($50,000)end delete
begin insert seventy thousand dollars ($70,000)end insert.

34(b) Grant funds may be used to finance up to 100 percent of the
35costs necessary tobegin delete comply with Sections 25284.1,end deletebegin insert upgrade, remove,
36or replace project tanks to comply with Section 25284.1, 25292.05,end insert

37 25292.4, 25292.5,begin delete andend deletebegin insert orend insert 41954.

38(c) If the board received the applicant’s grant application on or
39before April 1, 2009, grant funds may be used to reimburse up to
40100 percent of the costs that the applicant incurred after the board
P37   1received the grant application to comply with the Enhanced Vapor
2Recovery Phase II regulations.

3(d) A person or entity is not eligible to receive more thanbegin delete fifty
4thousand dollars ($50,000)end delete
begin insert seventy thousand dollars ($70,000)end insert in
5grant funds pursuant to this chapter.

6begin insert

begin insertSEC. 24.end insert  

end insert
begin insert

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant
7to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
8the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
9district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
10infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
11for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of
12the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within
13the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
14Constitution.

end insert
15begin insert

begin insertSEC. 25.end insert  

end insert
begin insert

This act is an urgency statute necessary for the
16immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within
17the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into
18immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:

end insert
begin insert

19In order to protect the health and safety of the people of the state
20from the dangers of surface water and groundwater contamination
21and protect the environment from hazardous substance releases,
22it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.

end insert
begin delete
23

SECTION 1.  

Section 25299.43 of the Health and Safety Code
24 is amended to read:

25

25299.43.  

(a) To implement the changes to this chapter made
26by Chapter 1191 of the Statutes of 1994, and consistent with
27Section 25299.40, effective January 1, 1995, every owner subject
28to Section 25299.41 shall pay a storage fee of one mill ($0.001)
29for each gallon of petroleum placed in an underground storage
30tank that the person owns, in addition to the fee required by Section
3125299.41.

32(b) On and after January 1, 1996, the storage fee imposed under
33subdivision (a) shall be increased by two mills ($0.002) for each
34gallon of petroleum placed in an underground storage tank.

35(c) On and after January 1, 1997, the storage fee increased under
36subdivision (b) shall be increased by an additional three mills
37 ($0.003) for each gallon of petroleum placed in an underground
38storage tank.

39(d) On and after January 1, 2005, the storage fee increased under
40subdivision (c) shall be increased by an additional one mill ($0.001)
P38   1for each gallon of petroleum placed in an underground storage
2tank.

3(e) On and after January 1, 2006, the storage fee increased under
4subdivision (d) shall be increased by an additional one mill
5($0.001) for each gallon of petroleum placed in an underground
6storage tank.

7(f) On and after January 1, 2010, the storage fee increased under
8subdivision (e) shall be increased by an additional six mills
9 ($0.006) for each gallon of petroleum placed in an underground
10storage tank. The increase provided for in this subdivision shall
11be effective until January 1, 2016, at which time, the fee shall
12revert back to the fee pursuant to subdivision (e).

13(g) The fee imposed under this section shall be paid to the State
14Board of Equalization under Part 26 (commencing with Section
1550101) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code in the
16same manner as, and consistent with, the fees imposed under
17Section 25299.41.

18(h) The State Board of Equalization shall amend the regulations
19adopted under Section 25299.41 to carry out this section.

end delete


O

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