(a)In lieu of prosecution, the secretary or a county agricultural commissioner may levy a civil penalty against any person under the enforcement jurisdiction of the secretary as provided in Section 46000 who violates this act, or any regulation adopted pursuant to this act, or regulations adopted by the NOP, in an amount not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each violation. The amount of the penalty assessed for each violation shall be based on the nature of the violation, the seriousness of the effect of the violation on the effectuation of the purposes and provisions of this chapter and the impact of the penalty on the violator, including the deterrent effect on future violations.
(b)
(1)Notwithstanding the penalties prescribed
in subdivision (a), if the secretary or c
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(a)
In lieu of prosecution, the secretary or a county agricultural commissioner may levy a civil penalty against any person under the enforcement jurisdiction of the secretary as provided in Section 46000 who violates this act, or any regulation adopted pursuant to this act, or regulations adopted by the NOP, in an amount not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each violation. The amount of the penalty assessed for each violation shall be based on the nature of the violation, the seriousness of the effect of the violation on the effectuation of the purposes and provisions of this chapter and the impact of the penalty on the violator, including the deterrent effect on future violations.
(b)
(1)
Notwithstanding the penalties prescribed
in subdivision (a), if the secretary or county agricultural commissioner finds that a person or a responsibly connected person knowingly sells or labels a product as organic, in violation of this act, any regulation adopted pursuant to this act, or regulations adopted by the NOP, the secretary or county agricultural commissioner may levy a civil penalty against the person in an amount that is not more than the amount specified in Section 3.91(b)(1)(xxxvi) of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations for each violation. For purposes of this section, “responsibly connected” has the same meaning as defined in Section 205.2 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(2)
Notwithstanding the penalties prescribed in subdivision (a), if the secretary or county agricultural commissioner finds that a violation was not intentional, the secretary or county agricultural commissioner may levy a civil penalty of not more than two thousand five hundred
dollars ($2,500) for each violation.
(c)
For a first offense, in lieu of a civil penalty as prescribed in subdivision (a) or (b), the secretary or county agricultural commissioner may issue a notice of violation if they find that the violation is minor.
(d)
A person against whom a civil penalty is proposed shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing before the secretary or county agricultural commissioner, upon request made in writing within 30 days after the issuance of the notice of penalty. At the hearing, the person shall be given the right to review the secretary’s or commissioner’s evidence of the violation and the right to present evidence on their own behalf. If no hearing is requested, the civil penalty shall constitute a final and nonreviewable order.
(e)
If a hearing is held, review of the final
decision of the secretary or county agricultural commissioner may be requested in writing by any person, pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure within 30 days of the date of the final order of the secretary or county agricultural commissioner.
(f)
The secretary shall be entitled to receive reimbursement from any organic operation or person that is found in violation of this chapter for any reasonable attorney’s fees and other related costs, including, but not limited to, investigative costs, involved in the enforcement of this chapter.
(g)
The secretary shall use all funds received pursuant to this section in accordance with Section 46007.
(h)
A civil penalty levied by the secretary pursuant to this section may be recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the state. A civil penalty levied
by a county agricultural commissioner pursuant to this section may be recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the county. After the exhaustion of the review procedures provided in this section, a county agricultural commissioner, or their representative, may file a certified copy of a final decision of the commissioner that directs the payment of a civil penalty and, if applicable, a copy of any order that denies a petition for a writ of administrative mandamus with the clerk of the superior court of any county. Judgment shall be entered immediately by the clerk in conformity with the decision or order. Pursuant to Section 6103 of the Government Code, no fees shall be charged by the clerk of the superior court for the performance of any official service required in connection with the entry of judgment pursuant to this section.
(i)
The secretary shall maintain in a central location, and make publicly available for inspection and
copying upon request, a list of all civil penalties levied by the secretary and by each county agricultural commissioner within the past five years, including the amount of each penalty, the person against whom the penalty was levied, and the nature of the violation. Copies of this list shall also be available by mail, upon written request and payment of a reasonable fee, as set by the secretary.