Bill Text: CA AB1254 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Production or cultivation of a controlled substance: civil penalties.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-09-01 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB1254 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB1254-Amended.html

Amended  IN  Senate  July 10, 2017
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 21, 2017

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 1254


Introduced by Assembly Member Wood

February 17, 2017


An act to amend Section 12025 of the Fish and Game Code, and to amend Section 1847 of the Water Code, relating to controlled substances.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1254, as amended, Wood. Production or cultivation of a controlled substance: civil and criminal penalties.

(1)Existing

Existing law makes a person found to have violated specified provisions of law generally protecting fish and wildlife, water, or other natural resources in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance liable for a civil penalty in addition to any penalties imposed by any other law. Existing law authorizes the imposition of larger fines on a person who violates one of these provisions on specified types of public or private land or while the person was trespassing on public or private land than on a person who violates one of these provisions on land that the person owns, leases, or otherwise uses or occupies with the consent of the landowner. With respect to a violation that occurs on land that a person owns, leases, or otherwise uses or occupies with the consent of the landowner, existing law makes each day that a violation occurs or continues to occur a separate violation. violation subject to the additional civil penalty.
This bill would also make each day that a violation occurs or continues to occur on the specified types of public or private land or while the person was trespassing on public or private land a separate violation. violation subject to the additional civil penalty.

(2)Under existing law, a person or entity who diverts or uses water for cannabis cultivation for which a license is required, but has not been obtained, pursuant to specified provisions of the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act is liable for specified civil penalties.

This bill would also make a violation of this provision a misdemeanor subject to specified criminal penalties. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(3)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 a specified reason.

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YESNO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 12025 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:

12025.
 (a) (1) In addition to any penalties imposed by any other law, a person found to have violated the code sections described in subparagraphs (A) to (K), inclusive, in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance on land under the management of the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the State Lands Commission, a regional park district, the United States Forest Service, or the United States Bureau of Land Management, or within the respective ownership of a timberland production zone, as defined in Chapter 6.7 (commencing with Section 51100) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code, of more than 50,000 acres, or while trespassing on other public or private land in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance, shall be liable for a civil penalty as follows:
(A) A person who violates Section 1602 in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
(B) A person who violates Section 5650 in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for each violation.
(C) A person who violates Section 5652 in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for each violation.
(D) A person who violates subdivision (a) of Section 374.3 of the Penal Code in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for each violation.
(E) A person who violates paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) of Section 374.3 of the Penal Code in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for each violation.
(F) A person who violates subdivision (b) of Section 374.8 of the Penal Code in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than forty thousand dollars ($40,000) for each violation.
(G) A person who violates Section 384a of the Penal Code in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
(H) A person who violates subdivision (a) of Section 4571 of the Public Resources Code in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
(I) A person who violates Section 4581 of the Public Resources Code in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
(J) A person who violates Section 2000 in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
(K) A person who violates Section 2002 in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
(2) Each day that a violation of a code section described in this subdivision occurs or continues to occur shall constitute a separate violation.
(b) (1) In addition to any penalties imposed by any other law, a person found to have violated the code sections described in this subdivision in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance on land that the person owns, leases, or otherwise uses or occupies with the consent of the landowner shall be liable for a civil penalty as follows:
(A) A person who violates Section 1602 in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for each violation.
(B) A person who violates Section 5650 in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for each violation.
(C) A person who violates Section 5652 in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for each violation.
(D) A person who violates subdivision (a) of Section 374.3 of the Penal Code in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for each violation.
(E) A person who violates paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) of Section 374.3 of the Penal Code in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for each violation.
(F) A person who violates subdivision (b) of Section 374.8 of the Penal Code in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for each violation.
(G) A person who violates Section 384a of the Penal Code in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation.
(H) A person who violates subdivision (a) of Section 4571 of the Public Resources Code in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for each violation.
(I) A person who violates Section 4581 of the Public Resources Code in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for each violation.
(J) A person who violates Section 2000 in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for each violation.
(K) A person who violates Section 2002 in connection with the production or cultivation of a controlled substance is subject to a civil penalty of not more than eight thousand dollars ($8,000) for each violation.
(2) Each day that a violation of a code section described in this subdivision occurs or continues to occur shall constitute a separate violation.
(c) The civil penalty imposed for each separate violation pursuant to this section is in addition to any other civil penalty imposed for another violation of this section, or any violation of any other law.
(d) All civil penalties imposed or collected by a court for a separate violation pursuant to this section shall not be considered to be fines or forfeitures, as described in Section 13003, and shall be apportioned in the following manner:
(1) Thirty percent shall be distributed to the county in which the violation was committed pursuant to Section 13003. The county board of supervisors shall first use any revenues from those penalties to reimburse the costs incurred by the district attorney or city attorney in investigating and prosecuting the violation.
(2) (A) Thirty percent shall be distributed to the investigating agency to be used to reimburse the cost of any investigation directly related to the violations described in this section.
(B) If the department receives reimbursement pursuant to this paragraph for activities funded pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 4629.6 of the Public Resources Code, the reimbursement funds shall be deposited into the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund, created by Section 4629.3 of the Public Resources Code, if there is an unpaid balance for a loan authorized by subdivision (f) of Section 4629.6 of the Public Resources Code.
(3) Forty percent shall be deposited into the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund, created by Section 4629.3 of the Public Resources Code, and used for grants authorized pursuant to Section 4629.6 of the Public Resources Code that improve forest health by remediating former marijuana growing operations.
(e) Civil penalties authorized pursuant to this section may be imposed administratively by the department if all of the following occur:
(1) The chief deputy director or law enforcement division assistant chief in charge of marijuana-related enforcement issues a complaint to any person or entity on which an administrative civil penalty may be imposed pursuant to this section. The complaint shall allege the act or failure to act that constitutes a violation, any facts related to natural resources impacts, the provision of law authorizing the civil penalty to be imposed, and the proposed penalty amount.
(2) The complaint and order is served by personal notice or certified mail and informs the party served that the party may request a hearing not later than 20 days from the date of service. If a hearing is requested, it shall be scheduled before the director or his or her designee, which designee shall not be the chief deputy or assistant chief issuing the complaint and order. A request for a hearing shall contain a brief statement of the material facts the party claims support his or her contention that an administrative penalty should not be imposed or that an administrative penalty of a lesser amount is warranted. A party served with a complaint pursuant to this subdivision waives his or her right to a hearing if a hearing is not requested within 20 days of service of the complaint, in which case the order imposing the administrative penalty shall become final.
(3) The director, or his or her designee, shall control the nature and order of hearing proceedings. Hearings shall be informal in nature, and need not be conducted according to the technical rules relating to evidence. The director or his or her designee shall issue a final order within 45 days of the close of the hearing. A copy of the final order shall be served by certified mail upon the party served with the complaint.
(4) A party may obtain review of the final order by filing a petition for a writ of mandate with the superior court within 30 days of the date of service of the final order. The administrative penalty shall be due and payable to the department within 60 days after the time to seek judicial review has expired, or, where the party did not request a hearing of the order, within 20 days after the order imposing an administrative penalty becomes final.
(5) The department may adopt regulations to implement this subdivision.
(f) All administrative penalties imposed or collected by the department for a separate violation pursuant to this section shall not be considered to be fines or forfeitures, as described in Section 13003, and shall be deposited into the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund, created by Section 4629.3 of the Public Resources Code, to repay any unpaid balance of a loan authorized by subdivision (f) of Section 4629.6 of the Public Resources Code. Any remaining funds from administrative penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be apportioned in the following manner:
(1) Fifty percent shall be deposited into the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund for grants authorized pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 4629.6 of the Public Resources Code, with priority given to grants that improve forest health by remediating former marijuana growing operations.
(2) Fifty percent shall be deposited into the Fish and Game Preservation Fund.
(g) Any civil penalty imposed pursuant to this section for the violation of an offense described in subparagraph (D), (E), or (F) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) or subparagraph (D), (E), or (F) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) for which the person was convicted shall be offset by the amount of any restitution ordered by a criminal court.
(h) For purposes of this section, “controlled substance” has the same meaning as defined in Section 11007 of the Health and Safety Code.

SEC. 2.Section 1847 of the Water Code is amended to read:
1847.

(a)A person or entity may be liable for a violation of any of the requirements of subdivision (b) in an amount not to exceed the sum of the following:

(1)Five hundred dollars ($500), plus two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each additional day on which the violation continues if the person fails to correct the violation within 30 days after the board has called the violation to the attention of that person.

(2)Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each acre-foot of water diverted or used in violation of the applicable requirement.

(b)Liability may be imposed for any of the following violations:

(1)Violation of a limitation or requirement established by the board or the Department of Fish and Wildlife under Section 13149.

(2)Failure to submit information, or making a material misstatement in information submitted, under subdivision (a), (b), or (c) of Section 19332.2 of the Business and Professions Code.

(3)Violation of any requirement imposed under subdivision (e) of Section 19332.2 of the Business and Professions Code.

(4)Diversion or use of water for cannabis cultivation for which a license is required, but has not been obtained, under Article 6 (commencing with Section 19331) of Chapter 3.5 of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code.

(c)Civil liability may be imposed by the superior court. The Attorney General, upon the request of the board, shall petition the superior court to impose, assess, and recover those sums.

(d)Civil liability may be imposed administratively by the board pursuant to Section 1055.

(e)(1)A person or entity who violates paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as follows:

(A)For the first violation by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisonment in a county jail for not more than six months, or by both that fine and imprisonment.

(B)For any second or subsequent violation, or for a violation that occurs during a period for which the Governor has issued a proclamation of a state of emergency under the California Emergency Services Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 8550) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code) based on drought conditions, by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment.

(2)Enforcement pursuant to this subdivision does not preclude enforcement pursuant to subdivision (a).

SEC. 3.

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

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