Section 27583.2 Of Article 7. Civil Penalties And Remedies From California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 12. >> Part 4. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 7.
27583.2
. 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.