Amended in Senate April 21, 2014

Senate BillNo. 1261


Introduced by Senator Jackson

February 21, 2014


An act to amend Sections 25404.5, 25501, 25502, 25503, 25504, 25505, 25507, 25507.1, 25507.2, 25508, 25508.1, 25508.2, 25509, 25510, 25510.3, 25511, 25512, and 25515.5 of, and to repeal and add Section 25506 of, the Health and Safety Code, relating to hazardous materials.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 1261, as amended, Jackson. Hazardous materials: business plans.

(1) Existing law requires the Secretary for Environmental Protection to implement a unified hazardous waste and hazardous materials management regulatory program, including a statewide information management system for purposes of receiving data collected by unified program agencies. A city or local agency that meets specified requirements is authorized to apply to the secretary to implement the unified program and be certified as a certified unified program agency (CUPA), and every county is required to apply to the secretary to be certified to implement the unified program. Existing law also requires each certified unified program agency to institute a single fee system, which is required to include a surcharge on each person regulated by the unified program, the amount of which is determined by the secretary annually, to cover the necessary and reasonable costs of the state agencies in carrying out their responsibilities in the unified hazardous waste and hazardous materials management regulatory program.

This bill would require the secretary, on and after January 1, 2015, until January 1, 2018, to increase this surcharge by the amount that the secretary determines necessary to establish an emergency business plan and inventory system for the purpose of sharing information from the statewide information management system with emergency response personnel for use during emergency incidents, which the secretary andbegin delete officeend deletebegin insert the Office of Emergency Servicesend insert would be required to develop. The bill would prohibit the increase in the oversight surcharge from exceeding $15 in any one year over that 3-year period.

(2) Existing law requires the unified program agency to implement and enforce provisions that require a business that handles a hazardous material to establish and implement a business plan, including an inventory of specified information for response to a release or threatened release of a hazardous material. The annual inventory submittal is required to contain information on specified hazardous materials that are handled in quantities equal to or greater than certain quantities or as established by the governing body of the unified program agency by a local ordinance. A violation of the business plan requirements is a misdemeanor.

This bill would instead require the secretary, in coordination with the office, to specify the hazardous materials inventory required to be submitted by handlers, including the data to be collected and submitted for hazardous materials. The bill would revise the information required to be included in the business plan.

(3) Existing law requires a unified program agency to exempt a business operating an unstaffed remote facility located in an isolated sparsely populated area from specified business plan requirements. Existing law allows a unified program agency to require an unstaffed remote facility to submit a hazardous materials business plan and inventory in accordance with requirements if the agency makes specified findings.

This bill would instead require the unified program agency to exempt from specified requirements an unstaffed facility located at least one-half mile from the nearest occupied structure, unless required by a local ordinance. The bill would require the facility to make a one-time business plan submittal that would not be required to include specified elements of the plan and would repeal the authorization for the unified program agency to require an unstaffed remote facility to submit a plan and inventory.

(4) Existing law requires a handler to electronically submit its business plan to the statewide information management system, to renew the plan at least once every 3 years to determine if a revision is needed, and to certify to the unified program agency that the review was made and that any necessary changes were made to the plan. A handler is also required to annually review the business plan information and resubmit or certify as correct the inventory information in the statewide environmental reporting system.

This bill would instead require the handler to submit the business plan annually to that system, and would instead require a business to at least annually review and verify that the business plan information in the statewide information management system meets specified requirements.

(5) Existing law requires the unified program agency to make the data elements and documents submitted by businesses available to the public in a specified manner.

This bill would instead require the unified program agency to make the information in the statewide information management system available to the public.

(6) Existing law requires the immediate report of any release or threatened release of a hazardous material to the unified program agency, and to the office, in accordance with the regulations adopted by the office.

This bill would require the office to adopt regulations by January 1, 2016, to implement these requirements.

(7) Existing law requires a business that believes that the inventory involves the release of a trade secret, to provide this information to the unified program agency, and notify the unified program agency in writing of that belief on the inventory form. Upon receiving a request for the public release of information that the business has notified the unified program agency is a trade secret, the unified program agency is required to follow a specified procedure.

This bill would instead require a business that believes the inventory involves the release of a trade secret to instead comply with the regulations that the bill would require thebegin delete officeend deletebegin insert California Environmental Protection Agencyend insert to adopt by January 1, 2016, with regard to the designation of trade secrets.

(8) The bill would impose a state-mandated local program by imposing new duties upon unified program agencies and by creating new crimes with regard to the submission of business plans.

(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.

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

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

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

P4    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 25404.5 of the Health and Safety Code
2 is amended to read:

3

25404.5.  

(a) (1) Each certified unified program agency shall
4institute a single fee system, which shall replace the fees levied
5pursuant to Sections 25201.14 and 25205.14, except for
6transportable treatment units permitted under Section 25200.2,
7and which shall also replace any fees levied by a local agency
8pursuant to Sections 25143.10, 25287, 25513, and 25535.5, or any
9other fee levied by a local agency specifically to fund the
10implementation of the provisions specified in subdivision (c) of
11Section 25404. The single fee system shall additionally include
12the fee established pursuant to Section 25270.6. Notwithstanding
13Sections 25143.10, 25201.14, 25287, 25513, and 25535.5, a person
14who complies with the certified unified program agency’s “single
15fee system” fee shall not be required to pay any fee levied pursuant
16to those sections, except for transportable treatment units permitted
17under Section 25200.2.

18(2) (A) The governing body of the local certified unified
19program agency shall establish the amount to be paid by each
20person regulated by the unified program under the single fee system
21at a level sufficient to pay the necessary and reasonable costs
22incurred by the certified unified program agency and by any
23participating agency pursuant to the requirements of subparagraph
24(E) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 25404.3.

25(B) The secretary shall establish the amount to be paid when
26the unified program agency is a state agency.

27(3) The fee system may also be designed to recover the
28necessary and reasonable costs incurred by the certified unified
29 program agency, or a participating agency pursuant to the
30requirements of subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subdivision
31(d) of Section 25404.3, in administering provisions other than
32those specified in subdivision (c) of Section 25404, if the
33implementation and enforcement of those provisions has been
P5    1incorporated as part of the unified program by the certified unified
2program agency pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 25404.2,
3and if the single fee system replaces any fees levied as of January
41, 1994, to fund the implementation of those additional provisions.

5(4) The amount to be paid by a person regulated by the unified
6program may be adjusted to account for the differing costs of
7administering the unified program with respect to that person’s
8 regulated activities.

9(b) (1) (A) Except as provided in subdivision (d), the single
10fee system instituted by each certified unified program agency
11shall include an assessment on each person regulated by the unified
12program of a surcharge, the amount of which shall be determined
13by the secretary annually, to cover the necessary and reasonable
14costs of the state agencies in carrying out their responsibilities
15under this chapter. The secretary may adjust the amount of the
16surcharge to be collected by different certified unified program
17agencies to reflect the different costs incurred by the state agencies
18in supervising the implementation of the unified program in
19different jurisdictions, and in supervising the implementation of
20the unified program in those jurisdictions for which the secretary
21has waived the assessment of the surcharge pursuant to subdivision
22(d). The certified unified program agency may itemize the amount
23of the surcharge on any bill, invoice, or return that the agency
24sends to a person regulated by the unified program. Each certified
25unified program agency shall transmit all surcharge revenues
26collected to the secretary on a quarterly basis. The surcharge shall
27be deposited in the Unified Program Account, which is hereby
28created in the General Fund and which may be expended, upon
29appropriation by the Legislature, by state agencies for the purposes
30of implementing this chapter.

31(B) On and after January 1, 2015, until January 1, 2018, the
32secretary shall increase the surcharge imposed pursuant to this
33subdivision by the amount that the secretary determines necessary
34to meet the requirements imposed by subdivision (c) of Section
3525504. The increase in the oversight surcharge shall not exceed
36fifteen dollars ($15) in any one year over that three-year period
37beginning January 2015. The secretary shall thereafter maintain
38the emergency business plan and inventory system for emergency
39response personnel, using the surcharge the secretary is authorized
40to impose pursuant to this section.

P6    1(2) On or before January 10, 2001, the secretary shall report to
2the Legislature on whether the number of persons subject to
3regulation by the unified program in any county is insufficient to
4support the reasonable and necessary cost of operating the unified
5program using only the revenues from the fee. The secretary’s
6report shall consider whether the surcharge required by subdivision
7(a) should include an assessment to be used to supplement the
8funding of unified program agencies that have a limited number
9of entities regulated under the unified program.

10(c) Each certified unified program agency and the secretary
11shall, before the institution of the single fee system and the
12assessment of the surcharge, implement a fee accountability
13program designed to encourage more efficient and cost-effective
14operation of the program for which the single fee and surcharge
15are assessed. The fee accountability programs shall include those
16elements of the requirements of the plan adopted pursuant to former
17Section 25206, as it read on January 1, 1995, that the secretary
18determines are appropriate.

19(d) The secretary may waive the requirement for a county to
20assess a surcharge pursuant to subdivision (b), if both of the
21following conditions apply:

22(1) The county meets all of the following conditions:

23(A) The county submits an application to the secretary for
24certification on or before January 1, 1996, that incorporates all of
25the requirements of this chapter, and includes the county’s request
26for a waiver of the surcharge, and contains documentation that
27demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the secretary, both of the
28following:

29(i) That the assessment of the surcharge will impose a significant
30economic burden on most businesses within the county.

31(ii) That the combined dollar amount of the surcharge and the
32single fee system to be assessed by the county pursuant to
33subdivision (a) exceeds the combined dollar amount of all existing
34fees that are replaced by the single fee system for most businesses
35within the county.

36(B) The application for certification, including the information
37required by subparagraph (A), is determined by the secretary to
38be complete, on or before April 30, 1996. The secretary, for good
39cause, may grant an extension of that deadline of up to 90 days.

P7    1(C) The county is certified by the secretary on or before
2December 31, 1996.

3(D) On or before January 1, 1994, the county completed the
4consolidation of the administration of the hazardous waste
5generator program, the hazardous materials release response plans
6and inventories program, and the underground storage tank
7program, referenced in paragraphs (1), (3), and (4) of subdivision
8(c) of Section 25404, into a single program within the county’s
9jurisdiction.

10(E) The county demonstrates that it will consolidate the
11administration of all programs specified in subdivision (c) of
12Section 25404, and that it will also consolidate the administration
13of at least one additional program that regulates hazardous waste,
14hazardous substances, or hazardous materials, as specified in
15subdivision (d) of Section 25404.2, other than the programs
16specified in subdivision (c) of Section 25404, into a single program
17to be administered by a single agency in the county’s jurisdiction
18at the time that the county’s certification by the secretary becomes
19effective.

20(2) The secretary makes all of the following findings:

21(A) The county meets all of the criteria specified in paragraph
22(1).

23(B) The assessment of the surcharge would impose a significant
24economic burden on most businesses within the county.

25(C) The combined dollar amount of the surcharge and the single
26fee system to be assessed by the county pursuant to subdivision
27(a) would exceed the combined dollar amount of all existing fees
28that are replaced by the single fee system for most businesses
29within the county.

30(D) The waiver of the surcharge for those counties applying for
31and qualifying for a waiver, and the resulting increase in the
32surcharge for other counties, would not, when considered
33cumulatively, impose a significant economic burden on businesses
34in any other county that does not apply for, or does not meet the
35criteria for, a waiver of the surcharge.

36(e) The secretary shall review all of the requests for a waiver
37of the surcharge made pursuant to subdivision (d) simultaneously,
38so as to adequately assess the cumulative impact of granting the
39requested waivers on businesses in those counties that have not
40applied, or do not qualify, for a waiver, and shall grant or deny all
P8    1requests for a waiver of the surcharge within 30 days from the date
2that the secretary certifies all counties applying, and qualifying,
3for a waiver. If the secretary finds that the grant of a waiver of the
4surcharge for all counties applying and qualifying for the waiver
5will impose a significant economic burden on businesses in one
6or more other counties, the secretary shall take either of the
7following actions:

8(1) Deny all of the applications for a waiver of the surcharge.

9(2) Approve only a portion of the waiver requests for counties
10meeting the criteria set forth in subdivision (d), to the extent that
11the approved waivers, when taken as a whole, meet the condition
12specified in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).
13In determining which of the counties’ waiver requests to grant,
14the secretary shall consider all of the following factors:

15(A) The relative degree to which the assessment of the surcharge
16will impose a significant economic burden on most businesses
17within each county applying and qualifying for a waiver.

18(B) The relative degree to which the combined dollar amount
19of the surcharge and the single fee system to be assessed, pursuant
20to subdivision (a), by each county applying and qualifying for a
21waiver exceeds the combined dollar amount of all existing fees
22that are replaced by the single fee system for most businesses
23within the county.

24(C) The relative extent to which each county applying and
25qualifying for a waiver has incorporated, or will incorporate, upon
26certification, additional programs pursuant to subdivision (d) of
27Section 25404.2, into the unified program within the county’s
28jurisdiction.

29(f) The secretary may, at any time, terminate a county’s waiver
30of the surcharge granted pursuant to subdivisions (d) and (e) if the
31secretary determines that the criteria specified in subdivision (d)
32for the grant of a waiver are no longer met.

33

SEC. 2.  

Section 25501 of the Health and Safety Code is
34amended to read:

35

25501.  

Unless the context indicates otherwise, the following
36definitions govern the construction of this article:

37(a) “Agricultural handler” means a business operating a farm
38that is subject to the exemption specified in Section 25507.1.

39(b) “Area plan” means a plan established pursuant to Section
4025503 by a unified program agency for emergency response to a
P9    1release or threatened release of a hazardous material within a city
2or county.

3(c) “Business” means all of the following:

4(1) An employer, self-employed individual, trust, firm, joint
5stock company, corporation, partnership, limited liability
6partnership or company, or other business entity.

7(2) A business organized for profit and a nonprofit business.

8(3) The federal government, to the extent authorized by law.

9(4) An agency, department, office, board, commission, or bureau
10of state government, including, but not limited to, the campuses
11of the California Community Colleges, the California State
12University, and the University of California.

13(5) An agency, department, office, board, commission, or bureau
14of a city, county, or district.

15(6) A handler that operates a unified program facility.

16(d) “Business plan” means a separate plan for each unified
17program facility, site, or branch of a business that meets the
18requirements of Section 25505.

19(e) (1) “Certified unified program agency” or “CUPA” means
20the agency certified by the secretary to implement the unified
21program specified in Chapter 6.11 (commencing with Section
2225404) within a jurisdiction.

23(2) “Participating agency” or “PA” means an agency that has a
24written agreement with the CUPA pursuant to subdivision (d) of
25Section 25404.3, and is approved by the secretary, to implement
26or enforce one or more of the unified program elements specified
27in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 25404, in
28accordance with Sections 25404.1 and 25404.2.

29(3) “Unified program agency” or “UPA” means the CUPA, or
30its participating agencies to the extent each PA has been designated
31by the CUPA, pursuant to a written agreement, to implement or
32enforce a particular unified program element specified in
33paragraphs (4) and (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 25404. For
34purposes of this article and Article 2 (commencing with Section
3525531), the UPAs have the responsibility and authority, to the
36extent provided by this article and Article 2 (commencing with
37Section 25531) and Sections 25404.1 and 25404.2, to implement
38and enforce only those requirements of this article and Article 2
39(commencing with Section 25531) listed in paragraphs (4) and (5)
40of subdivision (c) of Section 25404.

P10   1(4) The UPAs also have the responsibility and authority, to the
2extent provided by this article and Article 2 (commencing with
3 Section 25531) and Sections 25404.1 and 25404.2, to implement
4and enforce the regulations adopted to implement the requirements
5of this article and Article 2 (commencing with Section 25531)
6listed in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 25404.
7After a CUPA has been certified by the secretary, the unified
8program agencies shall be the only local agencies authorized to
9enforce the requirements of this article and Article 2 (commencing
10with Section 25531) listed in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subdivision
11(c) of Section 25404 within the jurisdiction of the CUPA.

12(f) “City” includes any city and county.

13(g) “Chemical name” means the scientific designation of a
14substance in accordance with the nomenclature system developed
15by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry or the
16system developed by the Chemical Abstracts Service.

17(h) “Common name” means any designation or identification,
18such as a code name, code number, trade name, or brand name,
19used to identify a substance by other than its chemical name.

20(i) “Compressed gas” means a material, or mixture of materials,
21that meets either of the following:

22(1) The definition of compressed gas or cryogenic fluid found
23in the California Fire Code.

24(2) Compressed gas that is regulated pursuant to Part 1
25(commencing with Section 6300) of Division 5 of the Labor Code.

26(j) “Emergency response personnel” means a public employee,
27including, but not limited to, a firefighter or emergency rescue
28personnel, as defined in Section 245.1 of the Penal Code, or
29personnel of a local emergency medical services (EMS) agency,
30as designated pursuant to Sectionbegin delete 1797.200end deletebegin insert 1797.200,end insert whobegin delete areend deletebegin insert isend insert
31 responsible for response, mitigation, or recovery activities in a
32medical disaster, fire, hazardous material disaster, or natural
33disaster where public health, public safety, or the environment
34may be impacted.

35(k) “Handle” means all of the following:

36(1) (A) To use, generate, process, produce, package, treat, store,
37emit, discharge, or dispose of a hazardous material in any fashion.

38(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), “store” does not include
39the storage of hazardous materials incidental to transportation, as
P11   1defined in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, with regard
2to the inventory requirements of Section 25506.

3(2) (A) The use or potential for use of a quantity of hazardous
4material by the connection of a marine vessel, tank vehicle, tank
5car, or container to a system or process for any purpose.

6(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the use or potential use
7does not include the immediate transfer to or from an approved
8atmospheric tank or approved portable tank that is regulated as
9loading or unloading incidental to transportation by Title 49 of the
10Code of Federal Regulations.

11(l) “Handler” means a business that handles a hazardous
12material.

13(m) (1) “Hazardous material” means a material listed in
14paragraph (2) that, because of its quantity, concentration, or
15physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or
16potential hazard to human health and safety or to the environment
17if released into the workplace or the environment.

18(2) Hazardous materials include all of the following:

19(A) A substance for which the manufacturer or producer is
20required to prepare a material safety data sheet (MSDS) for the
21substance or product pursuant to the Hazardous Substances
22Information and Training Act (Chapter 2.5 (commencing with
23Section 6360) of Part 1 of Division 5 of the Labor Code) or
24pursuant to any applicable federal law or regulation.

25(B) The substance is listed as a radioactive material in Appendix
26B of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 10.1) of Title 10 of the
27Code of Federal Regulations, maintained and updated by the
28Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

29(C) A substance listed pursuant to Title 49 of the Code of
30Federal Regulations.

31(D) A substance listed in Section 339 of Title 8 of the California
32Code of Regulations.

33(E) A material listed as a hazardous waste, as defined by
34Sections 25115, 25117, and 25316.

35(n) “Office” means the Office of Emergency Services.

36(o) “Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring,
37emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching,
38dumping, or disposing into the environment, unless permitted or
39authorized by a regulatory agency.

P12   1(p) “Secretary” means the Secretary for Environmental
2Protection.

3(q) “Statewide information management system” means the
4statewide information management system established pursuant
5to subdivision (e) of Section 25404 that provides for the
6combination of state and local information management systems
7for the purposes of managing unified program data.

8(r) “Threatened release” means a condition, circumstance, or
9incident making it necessary to take immediate action to prevent,
10reduce, or mitigate a release with the potential to cause damage
11or harm to persons, property, or the environment.

12(s) “Trade secret” means trade secrets as defined in either
13subdivision (d) of Section 6254.7 of the Government Code or
14Section 1061 of the Evidence Code.

15(t) “Unified program facility” means all contiguous land and
16structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on the land
17that are subject to the requirements of paragraphs (4) and (5) of
18subdivision (c) of Section 25404. For purposes of this article,
19“facility” has the same meaning as unified program facility.

20

SEC. 3.  

Section 25502 of the Health and Safety Code is
21amended to read:

22

25502.  

(a) This article and Article 3 (commencing with Section
2325545), as it pertains to the handling of hazardous material, and
24Article 2 (commencing with Section 25531), as it pertains to the
25regulation of stationary sources, shall be implemented by one of
26the following:

27(1) If there is a CUPA, the unified program agency.

28(2) If there is no CUPA, the agency authorized pursuant to
29subdivision (f) of Section 25404.3.

30(b) The agency responsible for implementing this article, Article
312 (commencing with Section 25531), and Article 3 (commencing
32with Section 25545) shall ensure full access to, and the availability
33of, information submitted under this chapter to emergency response
34personnel and other appropriate governmental entities within its
35jurisdiction.

36

SEC. 4.  

Section 25503 of the Health and Safety Code is
37amended to read:

38

25503.  

(a) The office shall adopt, after public hearing and
39consultation with the Office of the State Fire Marshal and other
40appropriate public entities, regulations for minimum standards for
P13   1business plans and area plans. All business plans and area plans
2shall meet the standards adopted by the office.

3(b) The standards for business plans in the regulations adopted
4pursuant to subdivision (a) shall do all of the following:

5(1) Set forth minimum requirements of adequacy, and not
6preclude the imposition of additional or more stringent
7requirements by local government.

8(2) Take into consideration and adjust for the size and nature
9of the business, the proximity of the business to residential areas
10and other populations, and the nature of the damage potential of
11its hazardous materials in establishing standards for paragraphs
12(3) and (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 25505.

13(3) Take into account the existence of local area and business
14plans that meet the requirements of this article so as to minimize
15the duplication of local efforts, consistent with the objectives of
16this article.

17(4) Define what releases and threatened releases are required
18to be reported pursuant to Section 25510. The office shall consider
19the existing federal reporting requirements in determining a
20definition of reporting releases pursuant to Section 25510.

21(c) A unified program agency shall, in consultation with local
22emergency response agencies, establish an area plan for emergency
23 response to a release or threatened release of a hazardous material
24within its jurisdiction. An area plan is not a statute, ordinance, or
25regulation for purposes of Section 669 of the Evidence Code. The
26standards for area plans in the regulations adopted pursuant to
27subdivision (a) shall provide for all of the following:

28(1) Procedures and protocols for emergency response personnel,
29including the safety and health of those personnel.

30(2) Preemergency planning.

31(3) Notification and coordination of onsite activities with state,
32local, and federal agencies, responsible parties, and special districts.

33(4) Training of appropriate employees.

34(5) Onsite public safety and information.

35(6) Required supplies and equipment.

36(7) Access to emergency response contractors and hazardous
37waste disposal sites.

38(8) Incident critique and followup.

39(9) Requirements for notification to the office of reports made
40pursuant to Section 25510.

P14   1(d) (1) The unified program agency shall submit to the office
2for its review a copy of the proposed area plan within 180 days
3after adoption of regulations by the office. The office shall notify
4the unified program agency as to whether the area plan is adequate
5and meets the area plan standards. The unified program agency
6shall submit a corrected area plan within 45 days of this notice.

7(2) The unified program agency shall certify to the office every
8three years that it has conducted a complete review of its area plan
9and has made any necessary revisions. If a unified program agency
10makes a substantial change to its area plan, it shall forward the
11changes to the office within 14 days after the changes have been
12made.

13(e) The inspection and enforcement program established
14pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) of Section
1525404.2, shall include the basic provisions of a plan to conduct
16onsite inspections of businesses subject to this article by the unified
17program agency. These inspections shall ensure compliance with
18this article and shall identify existing safety hazards that could
19 cause or contribute to a release and, where appropriate, enforce
20any applicable laws and suggest preventative measures designed
21to minimize the risk of the release of hazardous material into the
22workplace or environment. The requirements of this paragraph do
23not alter or affect the immunity provided to a public entity pursuant
24to Section 818.6 of the Government Code.

25

SEC. 5.  

Section 25504 of the Health and Safety Code is
26amended to read:

27

25504.  

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that
28persons attempting to do business in this state are increasingly
29experiencing excessive and duplicative regulatory requirements
30at different levels of government.

31(b) To streamline and ease the regulatory burdens of doing
32business in this state, compliance with Section 25505 shall also
33suffice to meet the requirements for a Hazardous Materials
34Management Plan and the Hazardous Materials Inventory
35Statement as set forth in the California Fire Code and its
36appendices, to the extent that the information in the California Fire
37Code is contained in Section 25505.

38(c) The unified program agency shall provide access to the
39information collected in the statewide information management
40systembegin insert toend insert emergency response personnel. The secretary and the
P15   1office, in consultation with the State Fire Marshal, shall develop
2an emergency business plan and inventory system to provide this
3information in an electronic format usable by emergency response
4personnel. In addition to any funding that becomes available, the
5secretary shall implement this system using the surcharge imposed
6pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b)
7of Section 25404.5.

8(d) The enforcement of this article by unified program agencies
9and the California Fire Code by those agencies required to enforce
10the provisions of that code shall be coordinated.

11(e) (1) Notwithstanding Section 13143.9, and the standards and
12regulations adopted pursuant to that section, a business that files
13the inventory of information required by this article and the
14addendum adopted pursuant to paragraph (4), if required by the
15local fire chief, shall be deemed to have met the requirements for
16a Hazardous Materials Inventory Statement, as set forth in the
17California Fire Code and its appendices.

18(2) Notwithstanding Section 13143.9, and the standards and
19regulations adopted pursuant to that section, a business that
20establishes and maintains a business plan for emergency response
21to a release or a threatened release of a hazardous material in
22accordance with Section 25505, shall be deemed to have met the
23requirements for a Hazardous Materials Management Plan, as set
24forth in the California Fire Code and its appendices.

25(3) Except for the addendum required by the local fire chief
26pursuant to paragraph (4), the unified program agency shall be the
27sole enforcement agency for purposes of determining compliance
28pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2).

29(4) The office shall, in consultation with the unified program
30agencies and the State Fire Marshal, adopt by regulation a single
31comprehensive addendum for hazardous materials reporting for
32the purposes of complying with subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section
3313143.9 and subdivision (b) of Section 25506. The unified program
34agency shall require businesses to annually use that addendum
35when complying with subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 13143.9
36and subdivision (b) of Section 25506. A business shall file the
37addendum with the unified program agency when required by the
38local fire chief pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 13143.9 or
39subdivision (b) of Section 25506.

P16   1(f) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this section, this
2section does not affect or otherwise limit the authority of the local
3fire chief to enforce the California Fire Code.

4

SEC. 6.  

Section 25505 of the Health and Safety Code is
5amended to read:

6

25505.  

(a) A business plan shall contain all of the following
7information:

8(1) The inventory of information required by this article and
9additional information the governing body of the unified program
10agency finds necessary to protect the health and safety of persons,
11property, or the environment. Locally required information shall
12be adopted by local ordinance and shall be subject to trade secret
13protection specified in Section 25512. The unified program agency
14shall notify the secretary within 30 days after those requirements
15are adopted.

16(2) A site map that contains north orientation, loading areas,
17internal roads, adjacent streets, storm and sewer drains, access and
18exit points, emergency shutoffs, evacuation staging areas,
19hazardous material handling and storage areas, and emergency
20response equipment. Updates to existing maps to meet these
21requirements shall be completed by January 1, 2017.

22(3) Emergency response plans and procedures in the event of a
23reportable release or threatened release of a hazardous material,
24including, but not limited to, all of the following:

25(A) Immediate notification contacts to the appropriate local
26emergency response personnel and to the unified program agency.

27(B) Procedures for the mitigation of a release or threatened
28release to minimize any potential harm or damage to persons,
29property, or the environment.

30(C) Evacuation plans and procedures, including immediate
31notice, for the business site.

32(4) Training for all new employees and annual training,
33including refresher courses, for all employees in safety procedures
34in the event of a release or threatened release of a hazardous
35material, including, but not limited to, familiarity with the plans
36and procedures specified in paragraph (3). These training programs
37may take into consideration the position of each employee. This
38training shall be documented electronically or by hard copy and
39shall be made available for a minimum of three years.

P17   1(b) A business required to file a pipeline operations contingency
2plan in accordance with the California Pipeline Safety Act of 1981
3(Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 51010) of Part 1 of
4Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code) and the regulations
5of the Department of Transportation, found in Part 195
6(commencing with Section 195.1) of Subchapter D of Chapter I
7of Subtitle B of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, may
8file a copy of those plans with the unified program agency instead
9of filing an emergency response plan specified in paragraph (3)
10of subdivision (a).

11(c) The emergency response plans and procedures, the inventory
12of information required by this article, and the site map required
13by this section shall be readily available to personnel of the
14business or the unified program facility with responsibilities for
15emergency response or training pursuant to this section.

16

SEC. 7.  

Section 25506 of the Health and Safety Code is
17repealed.

18

SEC. 8.  

Section 25506 is added to the Health and Safety Code,
19to read:

20

25506.  

(a) The secretary, in coordination with the office, shall
21specify the hazardous materials inventory that shall be submitted
22by handlers and the data to be collected and submitted for
23hazardous materials in quantities equal to or greater than the
24quantities specified in Section 25507 or as otherwise established
25by the governing body of the unified program agency by a local
26ordinance.

27(b) If required by the local fire chief, the business shall also file
28the addendum required by paragraph (4) of subdivision (e) of
29Section 25504.

30(c) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (d), the inventory
31information required by this section shall also include all inventory
32 information required by Section 11022 of Title 42 of the United
33States Code.

34(2) The office may adopt or amend existing regulations
35specifying the inventory information required by this subdivision.

36(d) If, pursuant to federal law or regulation, as it currently exists
37or as it may be amended, the office determines that the inventory
38information required by subdivisions (a) and (c) is substantially
39equivalent to the inventory information required under the
40Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986
P18   1(42 U.S.C. Sec. 11001 et seq.), the requirements of subdivisions
2(a) and (c) shall not apply.

3

SEC. 9.  

Section 25507 of the Health and Safety Code is
4amended to read:

5

25507.  

(a) Except as provided in this article, a facility shall
6establish and implement a business plan for emergency response
7to a release or threatened release of a hazardous material in
8accordance with the standards prescribed in the regulations adopted
9pursuant to Section 25503 if the facility meets any of the following
10conditions:

11(1) (A) The facility handles a hazardous material or a mixture
12containing a hazardous material that has a quantity at any one time
13during the reporting year that is equal to, or greater than, 55 gallons
14for materials that are liquids, 500 pounds for solids, or 200 cubic
15feet for compressed gas, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section
16 25505. The physical state and quantity present of mixtures shall
17be determined by the physical state of the mixture as whole, not
18individual components, at standard temperature and pressure.

19(B) For the purpose of this section, for compressed gases, if a
20hazardous material or mixture is determined to exceed threshold
21quantities at standard temperature and pressure, it shall be reported
22in the physical state at which it is stored. If the material is an
23extremely hazardous substance, as defined in Section 355.61 of
24Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, all amounts shall be
25reported in pounds.

26(2) The business is required to submit chemical inventory
27information pursuant to Section 11022 of Title 42 of the United
28States Code.

29(3) The facility handles at any one time during the reporting
30year an amount of a hazardous material that is equal to, or greater
31than the threshold planning quantity, under both of the following
32conditions:

33(A) The hazardous material is an extremely hazardous substance,
34as defined in Section 355.61 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal
35Regulations.

36(B) The threshold planning quantity for that extremely hazardous
37substance listed in Appendices A and B of Part 355 (commencing
38with Section 355.1) of Subchapter J of Chapter I of Title 40 of the
39Code of Federal Regulations is less than 500 pounds.

P19   1(4) The facility handles at any one time during the reporting
2year a total weight of 5,000 pounds for solids or a total volume of
3550 gallons for liquids, if the hazardous material is a solid or liquid
4substance that is classified as a hazard for purposes of Section
55194 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations solely as an
6irritant or sensitizer.

7(5) The facility handles at any one time during the reporting
8year cryogenic, refrigerated, or compressed gas in a quantity of
91,000 cubic feet or more at standard temperature and pressure, if
10the gas is any of the following:

11(A) Classified as a hazard for the purposes of Section 5194 of
12Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations only for hazards due
13to simple asphyxiation or the release of pressure.

14(B) Oxygen, nitrogen, and nitrous oxide ordinarily maintained
15by a physician, dentist, podiatrist, veterinarian, pharmacist, or
16emergency medical service provider at his or her place of business.

17(C) Carbon dioxide.

18(D) Refrigerant gases other than ammonia in a closed cooling
19begin delete systemsend deletebegin insert systemend insert used for air-conditioning and refrigeration.

20(E) Gases used in closed fire suppression systems.

21(6) The facility handles a radioactive material at any one time
22during the reporting year that is handled in quantities for which
23an emergency plan is required to be adopted pursuant to Part 30
24(commencing with Section 30.1), Part 40 (commencing with
25Section 40.1), or Part 70 (commencing with Section 70.1), of
26Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or
27pursuant to any regulations adopted by the state in accordance with
28 those regulations.

29(7) The facility handles perchlorate material, as defined in
30subdivision (c) of Section 25210.5, in a quantity at any one time
31during the reporting year that is equal to, or greater than, the
32thresholds listed in paragraph (1).

33(b) Compressed air in cylinders, bottles, and tanks used by fire
34departments and other emergency response organizations for the
35purpose of emergency response and safety are exempt from this
36article.

37(c) (1) Lubricating oil is exempt from this section and Sections
3825506 and 25508, for a single business facility, if the total volume
39of each type of lubricating oil handled at that facility does not
40exceed 55 gallons and the total volume of all types of lubricating
P20   1oil handled at that facility does not exceed 275 gallons, at any one
2time.

3(2) For purposes of this paragraph, “lubricating oil” means oil
4intended for use in an internal combustion crankcase, or the
5transmission, gearbox, differential, or hydraulic system of an
6automobile, bus, truck, vessel, airplane, heavy equipment, or other
7machinery powered by an internal combustion or electric powered
8engine. “Lubricating oil” does not include used oil, as defined in
9subdivision (a) of Section 25250.1.

10(d) Both of the following are exempt from this section and
11Sections 25506 and 25508 if the aggregate storage capacity of oil
12at the facility is less than 1,320 gallons:

13(1) Fluid in a hydraulic system.

14(2) Oil-filled electrical equipment that is not contiguous to an
15electric facility.

16(e) Hazardous material contained solely in a consumer product,
17found in a retail establishment and intended for sale to, and for the
18use by, the public, is exempt from the business plan requirements
19of this article.

20(f) On-premises use, storage, or both, of propane in an amount
21not to exceed 500 gallons that is for the sole purpose of cooking,
22heating employee work areas, and heating water, within that
23business, is exempt from this section, unless the uniform program
24agency finds, and provides notice to the business handling the
25propane, that the handling of the on-premise propane requires the
26submission of a business plan, or any portion of a business plan,
27in response to public health, safety, or environmental concerns.

28(g) In addition to the authority specified in subdivision (i), the
29governing body of the unified program agency may, in exceptional
30circumstances, following notice and public hearing, exempt a
31hazardous material specified in subdivision (m) of Section 25501
32from Section 25506, if it is found that the hazardous material would
33not pose a present or potential danger to the environment or to
34human health and safety if the hazardous material was released
35into the environment. The unified program agency shall send a
36notice to the office and the secretary within 15 days from the
37effective date of any exemption granted pursuant to this
38subdivision.

39(h) The unified program agency, upon application by a handler,
40may exempt the handler, under conditions that the unified program
P21   1agency determines to be proper, from any portion of the
2requirements to establish and maintain a business plan, upon a
3written finding that the exemption would not pose a significant
4present or potential hazard to human health or safety or to the
5environment, or affect the ability of the unified program agency
6and emergency response personnel to effectively respond to the
7release of a hazardous material, and that there are unusual
8circumstances justifying the exemption. The unified program
9agency shall specify in writing the basis for any exemption under
10this subdivision.

11(i) The unified program agency, upon application by a handler,
12may exempt a hazardous material from the inventory provisions
13of this article upon proof that the material does not pose a
14significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety
15or to the environment if released into the workplace or
16environment. The unified program agency shall specify in writing
17the basis for any exemption under this subdivision.

18(j) The unified program agency shall adopt procedures to provide
19for public input when approving applications submitted pursuant
20to subdivisions (h) and (i).

21

SEC. 10.  

Section 25507.1 of the Health and Safety Code is
22amended to read:

23

25507.1.  

(a) A unified program agency shall exempt a business
24operating a farm for purposes of cultivating the soil or raising or
25harvesting any agricultural or horticultural commodity from filing
26the information in the business plan required by paragraphs (3)
27and (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 25505 if all of the following
28requirements are met:

29(1) The agricultural handler annually submits the facility
30information and inventory required by Section 25506 to the
31statewide information management system.

32(2) Each building in which hazardous materials subject to this
33article are stored is posted with signs, in accordance with
34regulations that the office shall adopt, that provide notice of the
35storage of any of the following:

36(A) Pesticides.

37(B) Petroleum fuels and oil.

38(C) Types of fertilizers.

39(3) The agricultural handler provides the training programs
40specified in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 25505.

P22   1(b) The unified program agency may designate the county
2agricultural commissioner to conduct the inspections of agricultural
3handlers. The agricultural commissioner shall schedule and conduct
4inspections in accordance with Section 25511.

5

SEC. 11.  

Section 25507.2 of the Health and Safety Code is
6amended to read:

7

25507.2.  

Unless required by a local ordinance, the unified
8program agency shall exempt an unstaffed facility located at least
9one-half mile from the nearest occupied structure from Sections
1025508.2 and 25511, and shall subject the facility to Sections 25505,
1125506, and 25507 only as specified in this section, if the facility
12is not otherwise subject to the requirements of applicable federal
13law, and all of the following requirements are met:

14(a) The types and quantities of materials onsite are limited to
15one or more of the following:

16(1) One thousand standard cubic feet of compressed inert gases
17(asphyxiation and pressure hazards only).

18(2) Five hundred gallons of combustible liquid used as a fuel
19source.

20(3) Corrosive liquids, not to exceed 500 pounds of extremely
21hazardous substances, used as electrolytes, and in closed containers.

22(4) Five hundred gallons of lubricating and hydraulic fluids.

23(5) One thousand two hundred gallons of hydrocarbon gas used
24as a fuel source.

25(6) Any quantity of mineral oil contained within electrical
26equipment, such as transformers, bushings, electrical switches,
27and voltage regulators, if the spill prevention control and
28countermeasure plan has been prepared for quantities that meet or
29exceed 1,320 gallons.

30(b) The facility is secured and not accessible to the public.

31(c) Warning signs are posted and maintained for hazardous
32materials pursuant to the California Fire Code.

33(d) (1) Notwithstanding Sections 25505 and 25507, a one-time
34business plan, except for the emergency response plan and training
35elements specified in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subdivision (a) of
36Section 25505, is submitted to the statewide information
37management system. This one-time business plan submittal is
38subject to a verification inspection by the unified program agency
39and the unified program agency may assess a fee not to exceed the
P23   1actual costs of processing and for inspection, if an inspection is
2conducted.

3(2) If the information contained in the one-time submittal of the
4business plan changes and the time period of the change is longer
5than 30 days, the business plan shall be resubmitted within 30 days
6to the statewide information management system to reflect any
7change in the business plan. A fee not to exceed the actual costs
8of processing and inspection, if conducted, may be assessed by
9the unified program agency.

10(e) The unified program agency shall provide all information
11obtained from completed inventory forms, upon request, to
12emergency response personnel on a 24-hour basis.

13

SEC. 12.  

Section 25508 of the Health and Safety Code is
14amended to read:

15

25508.  

(a) (1) A handler shall electronically submit its
16business plan annually to the statewide information management
17system in accordance with the requirements of this article and
18certify that the business plan meets the requirements of this article.

19(2) If, after review, the unified program agency determines that
20the handler’s business plan is deficient in satisfying the
21requirements of this article or the regulations adopted pursuant to
22Section 25503, the unified program agency shall notify the handler
23of those deficiencies. The handler shall electronically submit a
24corrected business plan within 30 days from the date of the notice.

25(3) If a handler fails, after reasonable notice, to electronically
26submit a business plan in compliance with this article, the unified
27program agency shall take appropriate action to enforce this article,
28including the imposition of administrative, civil, and criminal
29penalties as specified in this article.

30(4) For data not adopted in the manner established under the
31standards adopted pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 25404,
32and that is reported using a document format, the use of a reporting
33method accepted by the statewide information management system
34shall be considered compliant with the requirement to submit that
35data. If the reporting option used does not support public records
36 requests from the public, the handler shall provide requested
37documents to the unified program agency within 10 business days
38of a request from the unified program agency.

39(b) Except as required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of
40Section 65850.2 of the Government Code, a business required to
P24   1establish, implement, and electronically submit a business plan
2pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not be deemed to be in violation
3of this article until 30 days after the business becomes subject to
4subdivision (a).

5

SEC. 13.  

Section 25508.1 of the Health and Safety Code is
6amended to read:

7

25508.1.  

Within 30 days of any one of the following events,
8a business subject to this article shall electronically update the
9information submitted to the statewide information management
10system:

11(a) A 100 percent or more increase in the quantity of a
12previously disclosed material.

13(b) Any handling of a previously undisclosed hazardous material
14subject to the inventory requirements of this article.

15(c) Change of business address.

16(d) Change of business ownership.

17(e) Change of business name.

18(f) (1) A substantial change in the handler’s operations occurs
19that requires modification to any portion of the business plan.

20(2) For the purposes of this subdivision, “substantial change”
21means any change in a regulated facility that would inhibit
22immediate response during an emergency by either site personnel
23or emergency response personnel, or that could inhibit the handler’s
24ability to comply with Section 25507, change the operational
25knowledge of the facility, or impede implementation of the business
26plan.

27

SEC. 14.  

Section 25508.2 of the Health and Safety Code is
28amended to read:

29

25508.2.  

At least once every 12 months, the business owner,
30operator, or officially designated representative shall review, and
31verify that the information in the business plan submitted pursuant
32to Section 25508 in the statewide information management system
33is complete, accurate, up to date, and in compliance with Section
3411022 of Title 42 of the United States Code. The annual electronic
35submittal to the statewide information management system required
36pursuant to Section 25508 satisfies this section.

37

SEC. 15.  

Section 25509 of the Health and Safety Code is
38amended to read:

39

25509.  

(a) The unified program agency shall maintain its
40administrative procedures with regard to maintaining records and
P25   1responding to requests for information in accordance with
2Subdivision 4 (commencing with Section 15100) of Division 1 of,
3and Division 3 of, Title 27 of the California Code of Regulations,
4as those regulations read on January 1, 2014.

5(b) The unified program agency shall make the information in
6the statewide information management system submitted pursuant
7to this article available for public inspection during the regular
8working hours of the unified program agency, except the
9information specifying the precise location where hazardous
10materials are stored and handled onsite, including any maps
11required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 25505.

12(c) The unified program agency shall make the information in
13the statewide information management system submitted pursuant
14to this article available to a requesting government agency that is
15authorized by law to access the information.

16(d) A person who submits inventory information required under
17Section 25506 with the unified program agency shall be deemed
18to have filed the inventory form required by Section 11022(a) of
19Title 42 of the United States Code with the state emergency
20response commission and local emergency planning committees
21established pursuant to Section 11001 of Title 42 of the United
22States Code.

23

SEC. 16.  

Section 25510 of the Health and Safety Code is
24amended to read:

25

25510.  

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the handler
26or an employee, authorized representative, agent, or designee of
27a handler, shall, upon discovery, immediately report any release
28or threatened release of a hazardous material to the unified program
29agency, and to the office, in accordance with the regulations
30adopted pursuant to Section 25503. The handler or an employee,
31authorized representative, agent, or designee of the handler shall
32provide all state, city, or county fire or public health or safety
33personnel and emergencybegin delete rescueend deletebegin insert responseend insert personnel with access
34to the handler’s facilities.

35(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a person engaged in the
36transportation of a hazardous material on a highway that is subject
37to, and in compliance with, the requirements of Sections 2453 and
3823112.5 of the Vehicle Code.

39(c) On or before January 1, 2016, the office shall adopt
40regulations to implement this section. In developing these
P26   1regulations, the office shall closely consult with representatives
2from regulated entities, appropriate trade associations, fire service
3organizations, federal, state, and local organizations, including
4unified program agencies, and other interested parties.

5(d) The unified program agency shall maintain one or more
6nonemergency contact numbers for release reports that do not
7require immediate agency response. The unified program agency
8shall promptly communicate changes to this information to
9regulated facilities and to the office.

10

SEC. 17.  

Section 25510.3 of the Health and Safety Code is
11amended to read:

12

25510.3.  

The emergency response personnel, responding to
13the reported release or threatened release of a hazardous material,
14or of a regulated substance, as defined in Section 25532, or to any
15fire or explosion involving a material or substance that involves a
16release that would be required to be reported pursuant to Section
1725510, shall immediately advise the superintendent of the school
18district having jurisdiction, where the location of the release or
19threatened release is within one-half mile of a school.

20

SEC. 18.  

Section 25511 of the Health and Safety Code is
21amended to read:

22

25511.  

(a) In order to carry out the purposes of this article and
23Article 2 (commencing with Section 25531), an employee or
24authorized representative of a unified program agency has the
25authority specified in Section 25185, with respect to the premises
26of a handler, and in Section 25185.5, with respect to real property
27that is within 2,000 feet of the premises of a handler, except that
28this authority shall include conducting inspections concerning
29hazardous material, in addition to hazardous waste.

30(b) In addition to the requirements of Section 25537, the unified
31program agency shall conduct inspections of every business subject
32to this article at least once every three years to determine if the
33business is in compliance with this article. The unified program
34agency shall give priority, when conducting these inspections, to
35inspecting facilities that are required to prepare a risk management
36plan pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 25531). In
37establishing a schedule for conducting inspections pursuant to this
38section, the unified program agency may adopt and use an index
39of the volatility, toxicity, and quantity of regulated substances and
40hazardous materials. A unified program agency shall attempt to
P27   1schedule the inspections conducted pursuant to this section and
2Section 25537, when applicable, during the same time period.

3(c) Pursuant to a written agreement, the unified program agency
4may designate the county agricultural commissioner to conduct
5the inspection of agricultural handlers for purposes of Section
625507.1. The agreement shall address the inspection, reporting,
7training, enforcement and cost recovery requirements to conduct
8the inspection of agricultural handlers. If designated, the
9agricultural commissioner shall schedule and conduct inspections
10in accordance with this section.

11

SEC. 19.  

Section 25512 of the Health and Safety Code is
12amended to read:

13

25512.  

(a) As used in this section, “trade secret” means a trade
14secret as defined in either subdivision (d) of Section 6254.7 of the
15Government Code or Section 1061 of the Evidence Code.

16(b) (1) If a business believes that the inventory required by this
17article involves the release of a trade secret, the business shall
18nevertheless provide this information to the unified program
19agency, and comply with the regulations adopted by thebegin delete officeend delete
20begin insert California Environmental Protection Agencyend insert pursuant to this
21 section.

22(2) On or before January 1, 2016, thebegin delete officeend deletebegin insert California
23Environmental Protection Agencyend insert
, in consultation with the
24begin delete secretaryend deletebegin insert officeend insert, shall adopt regulations for a business to designate
25information as a trade secret.

26(3) Subject to subdivisions (d) and (e), the unified program
27agency shall protect from disclosure any information designated
28as a trade secret by thebegin delete businessend deletebegin insert business, as provided in the
29regulations adoptedend insert
pursuant to paragraphbegin delete (1)end deletebegin insert (2)end insert.

30(c) (1) Upon the receipt of a request for the release of
31information to the public that includes information that the business
32has designated as a trade secret pursuant to the regulations adopted
33by thebegin delete officeend deletebegin insert California Environmental Protection Agencyend insert pursuant
34to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), the unified program agency
35shall notify the business in writing of the request by certified mail,
36return receipt requested.

37(2) The unified program agency shall release the requested
38information to the public 30 days or more after the date of mailing
39to the business the notice of the request for information, unless,
40prior to the expiration of the 30-day period, the business files an
P28   1action in an appropriate court for a declaratory judgment that the
2information is subject to protection under subdivision (b) or for
3an injunction prohibiting disclosure of the information to the public,
4and promptly notifies the unified program agency of that action.

5(3) This subdivision does not permit a business to refuse to
6disclose the information required pursuant to this article to the
7statewide information management system using the regulations
8adopted by thebegin delete officeend deletebegin insert California Environmental Protection Agencyend insert
9 pursuant to subdivision (b).

10(d) Except as provided in subdivision (c), any information that
11has been designated as a trade secret by a business is confidential
12information for purposes of this section and shall not be disclosed
13to anyone except the following:

14(1) An officer or employee of the county, city, state, or the
15United States, in connection with the official duties of that officer
16or employee under any law for the protection of health, or
17contractors with the county, city, or state and their employees if,
18in the opinion of the unified program agency, disclosure is
19necessary and required for the satisfactory performance of a
20contract, for performance of work, or to protect the health and
21safety of the employees of the contractor.

22(2) A physician if the physician certifies in writing to the unified
23program agency that the information is necessary to the medical
24treatment of the physician’s patient.

25(e) A physician who, by virtue of having obtained possession
26of, or access to, confidential information, and who, knowing that
27disclosure of the information to the general public is prohibited
28by this section, knowingly and willfully discloses the information
29in any manner to a person not entitled to receive it, is guilty of a
30misdemeanor.

31(f) An officer or employee of the county or city, or former
32officer or employee who, by virtue of that employment or official
33position, has possession of, or has access to, confidential
34information, and who, knowing that disclosure of the information
35to the general public is prohibited by this section, knowingly and
36willfully discloses the information in any manner to a person not
37entitled to receive it, is guilty of a misdemeanor. A contractor with
38the county or city and an employee of the contractor, who has been
39furnished information as authorized by this section, shall be
P29   1considered an employee of the county or city for purposes of this
2section.

3

SEC. 20.  

Section 25515.5 of the Health and Safety Code is
4amended to read:

5

25515.5.  

(a) All criminal penalties collected pursuant to this
6article shall be apportioned in the following manner:

7(1) Fifty percent shall be paid to the office of the city attorney,
8district attorney, or Attorney General, whichever office brought
9the action.

10(2) Fifty percent shall be paid to the agency which is responsible
11for the investigation of the action.

12(b) All civil penalties collected pursuant to this chapter shall be
13apportioned in the following manner:

14(1) Fifty percent shall be paid to the office of the city attorney,
15district attorney, or Attorney General, whichever office brought
16the action.

17(2) Fifty percent shall be paid to the agency responsible for the
18investigation of the action.

19(c) If a reward is paid to a person pursuant to Section 25516,
20the amount of the reward shall be deducted from the amount of
21the criminal or civil penalty before the amount is apportioned
22pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b).

23

SEC. 21.  

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
24Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
25a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service
26charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or
27level of service mandated by this act or because costs that may be
28incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred
29because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a
30crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction,
31within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or
32changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6
33of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.



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