Article 7. Civil Penalties And Remedies of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 12. >> Part 4. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 7.

The director may bring an action to enjoin any violation or any threatened violation of this chapter or any regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter in the superior court in the county in which the violation occurred or is about to occur. Any proceeding pursuant to this section shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The director shall not, however, be required to allege facts necessary to show or tending to show lack of adequate remedy at law or to show or tending to show irreparable damage or loss.

(a) On or before January 1, 2017, the secretary shall adopt regulations classifying violations of this chapter, or any regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter, as "minor," subject to a penalty from fifty dollars ($50) to four hundred dollars ($400), inclusive, "moderate," subject to a penalty from four hundred one dollars ($401) to one thousand dollars ($1,000), inclusive, or "serious," subject to a penalty from one thousand one dollars ($1,001) to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), inclusive.
  (b) The penalty schedule described in this section shall apply to civil penalties imposed pursuant to Section 27581.4 and administrative penalties imposed pursuant to Section 27583.
  (c) The department shall post on its Internet Web site when the penalty schedule described in this section has been adopted.

In lieu of seeking prosecution of any violation of this chapter, or the regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, as a misdemeanor pursuant to Section 27671, the director may bring a civil action pursuant to Sections 27581 and 27581.4.

(a) The secretary, or a commissioner for violations in his or her county, may bring a civil action against any person who violates this chapter or any regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter, and any person who commits that violation is liable civilly in an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000). The court shall set the civil penalty imposed for a violation of this chapter, or any regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter, in accordance with the penalty schedule adopted by the secretary pursuant to Section 27581.1.
  (b) Any money recovered by the secretary under this section shall be deposited in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund for use by the department in administering this chapter, when appropriated to the department for that purpose.
  (c) Any money recovered by a commissioner under this section shall be deposited in the county's general fund.

A legal prosecution pursuant to this chapter shall be commenced within three years of the occurrence of the violation. However, once an investigation is completed and the appropriate documents have been submitted to the director, as determined by the director, the action shall be commenced within one year of that submission.

Except as provided in Section 27601, the director shall commence any civil action based on a violation of this chapter, and the regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, which shall be limited to the remedies provided for in this chapter.

(a) In lieu of prosecution, the secretary or the commissioner may levy an administrative penalty, in an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and in accordance with Section 27583.2 or 27583.4, as applicable, against a person who violates this chapter or any regulation implemented pursuant to this chapter. Commencing on the date the department posts notice of the adoption of the penalty schedule described in Section 27581.1, a penalty levied pursuant to this section shall be in accordance with that schedule.
  (b) "Person," as used in this section, means anyone engaged in the business of producing, candling, grading, packing, or otherwise preparing shell eggs for market or who engages in the operation of selling or marketing eggs that he or she has produced, purchased, or acquired from a producer, or which he or she is marketing on behalf of a producer, whether as owner, agent, employee, or otherwise pursuant to this chapter.

If the secretary levies an administrative penalty pursuant to Section 27583, the following shall apply:
  (a) The person charged with the violation shall be notified of the proposed action in accordance with subdivision (b). The notice shall include the nature of the violation, the amount of the proposed administrative penalty, and the right to request a hearing to appeal the administrative action.
  (b) (1) Notice shall be sent by certified mail to one of the following:
  (A) The address of the person charged, as provided by any license or registration issued by the department, which is not limited to a certificate of registration issued pursuant to this chapter.
  (B) The address of an agent for service of process for the person charged, as filed with the Secretary of State.
  (C) If an address described in subparagraph (A) or (B) is not available, the last known address of the person charged.
  (2) Notice that is sent to any of the addresses described in paragraph (1) shall be considered received, even if delivery is refused or if the notice is not accepted at that address.
  (3) The person charged shall have the right to appeal the proposed action by requesting a hearing within 20 days of the issuance of the notice of the proposed action.
  (c) If a hearing is requested, the secretary shall schedule a hearing within 45 days of the request, with notice of the time and place of the hearing given at least 10 days before the date of the hearing. At the hearing, the person charged shall be given an opportunity to review the secretary's evidence and to present evidence on his or her own behalf. If a hearing is not timely requested, the secretary may take the proposed action without a hearing.
  (d) The secretary shall issue a decision within 30 days of the conclusion of the hearing, which shall become effective immediately.
  (e) The secretary shall send a copy of the notice of the proposed action to the commissioner of the county in which the violation took place at the same time notice is sent pursuant to subdivision (b). Additionally, the secretary shall inform the commissioner of the county in which the action was initiated of violations for which a penalty has been assessed.
  (f) If the proposed action is not overturned, in addition to the levy of an administrative penalty, the secretary may recover from the person charged any other reasonable costs incurred by the department in connection with administering the hearing to appeal the proposed action.
  (g) Revenues collected by the secretary pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund for use by the department in administering this chapter, when appropriated to the department for that purpose.

If a commissioner levies an administrative penalty pursuant to Section 27583, the following shall apply:
  (a) (1) Before an administrative penalty is levied, the person charged with the violation shall receive written notice of the proposed action in accordance with paragraph (2). The notice shall include the nature of the violation, the amount of the proposed penalty, and the right to request a hearing to appeal the administrative action.
  (2) (A) Notice shall be sent by certified mail to one of the following:
  (i) The address of the person charged, as provided by any license or registration issued by the department, which is not limited to a certificate of registration issued pursuant to this chapter.
  (ii) The address of an agent for service of process for the person charged, as filed with the Secretary of State.
  (iii) If an address described in clause (i) or (ii) is not available, the last known address of the person charged.
  (B) Notice that is sent to any of the addresses described in subparagraph (A) shall be considered received, even if delivery is refused or if the notice is not accepted at that address.
  (C) The person charged shall have the right to appeal the proposed action by requesting a hearing within 20 days of the issuance of the notice of the proposed action.
  (3) If a hearing is requested, the commissioner shall schedule a hearing within 45 days of the request, with notice of the time and place of the hearing given at least 10 days before the date of the hearing. At the hearing, the person charged shall be given an opportunity to review the commissioner's evidence and to present evidence on his or her own behalf. If a hearing is not timely requested, the commissioner may take the proposed action without a hearing. If the person charged, or his or her legal representative, fails to appear, the commissioner shall prevail in the proceedings.
  (4) The commissioner shall issue a decision within 30 days of the conclusion of the hearing, which shall become effective immediately.
  (5) The commissioner shall send a copy of the notice of the proposed action to the secretary at the same time notice is sent to the person charged with the violation.
  (b) If the person, upon whom the commissioner levied an administrative penalty, requested and appeared at a hearing, the person may appeal the commissioner's decision to the secretary within 30 days of the date of receiving a copy of the commissioner's decision. The following procedures apply to the appeal:
  (1) The appeal shall be in writing and signed by the appellant or his or her authorized agent, state the grounds for the appeal, and include a copy of the commissioner's decision. The appellant shall file a copy of the appeal with the commissioner at the same time it is filed with the secretary.
  (2) The appellant and the commissioner, at the time of filing the appeal, within 10 days thereafter, or at a later time prescribed by the secretary, may present the record of the hearing and a written argument to the secretary stating the ground for affirming, modifying, or reversing the commissioner's decision.
  (3) The secretary may grant oral arguments upon application made at the time written arguments are filed.
  (4) If an application to present an oral argument is granted, written notice of the time and place for the oral argument shall be given at least 10 days before the date set for oral argument. The times may be altered by mutual agreement of the appellant, the commissioner, and the secretary.
  (5) The secretary shall decide the appeal on the record of the hearing, including the written evidence and the written argument described in paragraph (2), that he or she has received. If the secretary finds substantial evidence in the record to support the commissioner's decision, the secretary shall affirm the decision.
  (6) The secretary shall render a written decision within 45 days of the date of appeal or within 15 days of the date of oral arguments or as soon thereafter as practical.
  (7) On an appeal pursuant to this section, the secretary may affirm the commissioner's decision, modify the commissioner's decision by reducing or increasing the amount of the penalty levied so that it is consistent with the penalty schedule described in Section 27581.1, or reverse the commissioner's decision. An administrative penalty increased by the secretary shall not be higher than that proposed in the commissioner's notice of proposed action given pursuant to subdivision (a). A copy of the secretary's decision shall be delivered or mailed to the appellant and the commissioner.
  (8) Any person who does not request a hearing with the commissioner pursuant to an administrative penalty assessed under subdivision (a) shall not file an appeal to the secretary pursuant to this subdivision.
  (c) If the proposed action is not overturned, in addition to the levy of an administrative penalty, the commissioner may recover from the person charged any other reasonable costs incurred by the commissioner in connection with administering the hearing to appeal the proposed action.
  (d) Revenues from administrative penalties levied by the commissioner shall be deposited in the general fund of the county and, upon appropriation by the board of supervisors, shall be used by the commissioner to carry out his or her responsibilities under this chapter. The commissioner shall inform the secretary of any violations for which a penalty has been assessed.

If a respondent in an administrative action agrees to stipulate to the notice of proposed action, a signed stipulation with the payment of the proposed administrative penalty shall be returned to the commissioner or secretary, as applicable, within 45 days of the postmark of the notice of the proposed action. If the stipulation and payment of the proposed administrative penalty are not received within 45 days, the commissioner or the secretary may file a certified copy of a final decision that directs the payment of an administrative penalty with the clerk of the superior court of any county. Judgment shall be entered immediately by the clerk in conformity with the decision. 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.

After the exhaustion of the appeal and review of procedures provided in this article, the secretary or commissioner, or his or her representative, may file a certified copy of a final decision that directs the payment of an administrative penalty, and, if applicable, a copy of any decision of the secretary, or his or her authorized representative, and 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.