12841
. (a) It is unlawful for a person to sell for use in this
state any pesticide products that have been registered by the
director for which the mill assessment established by this article,
and the regulations adopted pursuant to it, is not paid at the times
specified in Section 12843.
(b) Except as provided in subdivision (d), every person who sells
for use in this state a pesticide product that has been registered by
the director shall pay to the director the applicable assessment.
Those sales expressly include all sales made electronically,
telephonically, or by any other means that result in a pesticide
product being shipped to or used in this state. There is a rebuttable
presumption that pesticide products that are sold or distributed
into or within this state by any person are sold or distributed for
use in this state.
(c) (1) Upon application of a registrant, the director shall
determine whether a fertilizer or paper product is used as a carrier
for a pesticide, and is sold in combination, and whether the mill
assessment under this article shall be on the pesticide value only,
when the product is designed, developed, and manufactured, and sold
primarily for other than a pesticide use. If the director finds that
the combination product has such a major component and is designed,
developed, manufactured, and sold primarily for other than a
pesticide use, the assessment provided by this article shall be paid
on the equivalent percentage of the sales price of the active
ingredients of the pesticide product. The director shall establish
this percentage of the sales price. The percentage shall be the ratio
of that portion of the sales price attributable to the pesticide
portion to the total sales price of the combination product.
(2) For purposes of this section, "active ingredient" means any
active ingredient that is required to be stated on the label on any
registered pesticide under Section 12883.
(d) Assessments provided for in this article for sales of
registered pesticides that are sold for use in this state shall be
paid by the registrant except as follows:
(1) In those cases where the registrant did not first sell the
pesticide into or within this state or have actual knowledge, at the
time of its sale, that the pesticide would be sold for use in this
state, the assessment shall be paid by the licensed pesticide broker,
licensed pest control dealer, or other person who first sold the
pesticide for use in this state.
(2) A person is not required to pay an assessment on registered
products that are labeled only for use in further manufacturing or
formulating of pesticides.
(e) It has been and continues to be the intent of the Legislature
that this division requires the department to register all pesticides
prior to their sale for use in this state and, except as otherwise
provided by law, requires the department to regulate and control the
use of pesticides in accordance with this division. Except as
provided in Section 12841.1, the department shall continue to collect
the assessment as provided in this article at the same rate on all
registered agricultural and registered nonagricultural pesticides.
(f) (1) The mill assessment shall be paid at the following rates
per dollar of sales for all sales of pesticides for use in this
state:
(A) From January 1, 1998, to March 31, 1999, inclusive, the rate
shall be 15.15 mills ($0.01515) plus any additional assessment
authorized by Section 12841.1.
(B) From April 1, 1999, to December 31, 2002, inclusive, the rate
shall be 17.5 mills ($0.0175) plus any additional assessment
authorized by Section 12841.1.
(C) From January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2003, inclusive, the
rate shall be 17.5 mills ($0.0175).
(D) For all transactions on or after January 1, 2004, the actual
rate shall be that set by regulations adopted by the director at a
rate adequate to support the department's annual expenditures
authorized in the annual Budget Act and provide a prudent reserve.
The rate set by the director shall be no greater than 21 mills
($0.021). However, if regulations are not adopted before a payment is
due, payment shall be made at the rate of 17.5 mills ($0.0175), and,
upon adoption of regulations, payment of any additional amount due
shall be made.
(2) The regulations adopted pursuant to this section, or any
amendment thereto, shall be adopted by the director in accordance
with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of
Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. However, the adoption,
amendment, readoption, or repeal of these regulations shall be
considered by the Office of Administrative Law as an emergency, and
necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health,
safety, and general welfare. Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the regulations shall remain in effect until amended by the
director. The director shall make available to the public, upon the
adoption of an emergency regulation establishing a new rate, the
information upon which the director has calculated, based, or
determined the new rate.
(g) The revenue collected pursuant to this section shall be
deposited in the Department of Pesticide Regulation Fund and
distributed as follows:
(1) Notwithstanding Sections 2282 and 12784, the director shall
pay, in accordance with the criteria set forth in Section 12844, the
following amounts to the counties as reimbursement for costs incurred
by the counties in the administration and enforcement of Division 6
(commencing with Section 11401), this chapter, Chapter 3 (commencing
with Section 14001), Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 14090), and
Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 14101):
(A) From January 1, 1998, to March 31, 1998, inclusive,
five-eighths of the money received during that period pursuant to
this section.
(B) From April 1, 1998 to June 30, 2004, an amount equal to the
revenue derived from 6 mills ($0.006) per dollar of sales for all
pesticide sales for use in this state.
(C) Beginning July 1, 2004, an amount equal to the revenue derived
from 7.6 mills ($0.0076) per dollar of sales for all pesticide sales
for use in this state.
(2) All funds not otherwise distributed pursuant to this
subdivision shall remain in the Department of Pesticide Regulation
Fund and shall be available for expenditure, upon appropriation, to
support the department's operations.