(a) As an alternative to seeking civil penalties under Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 43000) to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 43800), inclusive, and Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 44200), for violation of state board regulations, the state board may impose an administrative penalty, as specified in this section, for a violation of this part, or any rule, regulation, permit, variance, or order of the state board pertaining to vehicular air pollution control except as otherwise provided in this division. An administrative penalty imposed pursuant to this section shall not exceed the amount that the state board is authorized to seek as a civil penalty for the applicable violation, and an administrative penalty imposed pursuant to this section shall not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each day in which there is a violation up to a maximum of one-hundred-thousand-dollars ($100,000) per penalty assessment proceeding for any violation arising from the same conduct. This one hundred thousand dollar ($100,000) maximum penalty limitation does not apply in any judicial proceeding involving violations committed under this part.
(b) Nothing in this section restricts the authority of the state board to negotiate mutual settlements under any other penalty provision of law that exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each day in which there is a violation up to a maximum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per penalty assessment proceeding.
(c) The administrative penalties authorized by this section shall be imposed and recovered by the state board in administrative hearings established pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 60065.1) and Article 4 (commencing with Section 60075.1) of Subchapter 1.25 of Chapter 1 of Division 3 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations, except that the hearings shall be conducted by an administrative law judge appointed by the Office of Administrative Hearings.
(d) Nothing in this section authorizes the state board to impose penalties for categories of violations for which the state board may not seek penalties in a civil action.
(e) If the state board imposes any administrative penalties pursuant to this section, the state board shall not bring any action pursuant to, or rely upon, Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 17000) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code.
(f) In determining the amount of any administrative penalty imposed pursuant to this section, the state board shall take into consideration all relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to, those factors specified in subdivision (b) of Section 43031.
(g) After an order imposing an administrative penalty becomes final pursuant to the hearing procedures identified in subdivision (c), and no petition for a writ of mandate has been filed within the time allotted for seeking judicial review of the order, the state board may apply to the Superior Court for the County of Sacramento for a judgment in the amount of the administrative penalty. The application, which shall include a certified copy of the final order of the administrative hearing officer, shall constitute a sufficient showing to warrant the issuance of the judgment.
(h) This section does not apply to any violation for which a penalty may be assessed pursuant to Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 43025).
(i) This section is not intended, and shall not be construed, to grant the state board authority to assess an administrative penalty for any category of violation that was not subject to enforcement by the state board as of January 1, 2002.
(j) Any administrative penalty assessed pursuant to this section shall be paid to the Treasurer for deposit in the General Fund.
(k) A party adversely affected by the final decision in the administrative hearing may seek independent judicial review by filing a petition for a writ of mandate in accordance with Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(l) This section applies only to violations that occur on or after January 1, 2002.
(m) The state board shall prepare and submit to the Legislature and the Governor a report summarizing the administrative penalties imposed by the state board pursuant to this section for calendar year 2011, and annually thereafter.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 413, Sec. 2. (SB 1402) Effective September 28, 2010.)