(a) Whenever there is a release or threatened release of a hazardous substance into the environment, the director may take or contract for any necessary removal or remedial action and may take or contract for any actions authorized by Section 78650, in compliance with the provisions of this part, including, but not limited to, subdivision (a) of Section 79130.
(b) Any person bidding for a contract specified in subdivision (a) shall submit a disclosure statement, as specified by Section 25112.5, except for a federal, state, or local agency. The director may prohibit a person from bidding on such a contract if the director makes any of the following determinations:
(1) The director determines, in writing, that the bidder, or, if the bidder is a business entity, any trustee, officer, director, partner, or any person holding more than 5 percent of the equity in or debt liability of that business entity, has engaged in activities resulting in any federal or state conviction that are significantly related to the fitness of the bidder to perform the bidder’s duties or activities under the contract. For purposes of this paragraph, “conviction” means a plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere. Any action that the department may take pursuant to this subdivision relating to the department’s refusal to permit a person to bid on the contract may be based upon a conviction for which any of the following has occurred:
(A) The time for appeal has elapsed.
(B) The judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal.
(C) Any order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, notwithstanding a subsequent order pursuant to Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code permitting that person to withdraw the plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation, information, or indictment.
(2) The director determines, in writing, that the bidder, or, if the bidder is a business entity, any trustee, officer, director, partner, or any person holding more than 5 percent of the equity in or debt liability of that business entity, has violated or failed to comply with this part, Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) or Chapter 6.7 (commencing with Section 25280) of Division 20, the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code), the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended (42 U.S.C. Sec. 6901 et seq.), the federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Authorization Act of 1994, as amended (49 U.S.C. Sec. 5101 et seq.), the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601 et seq.), the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 2601 et seq.), or any other equivalent federal or state statute or any requirement or regulation adopted pursuant thereto relating to the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, recycling, disposal, or handling of a hazardous waste, as defined in Section 25117, a hazardous substance, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 78075, or a hazardous material, as defined in Section 353 of the Vehicle Code, if the violation or failure to comply shows a repeating or recurring pattern or may pose a threat to public health or safety or the environment.
(3) The director determines, in writing, that the bidder has had a license, permit, or registration for the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, recycling, disposal, or handling of hazardous waste or hazardous substances revoked or suspended.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 257, Sec. 2. (AB 2293) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2024, pursuant to Sec. 4 of Stats. 2022, Ch. 257.)