Section 1058.5 Of Chapter 2. Administrative Provisions Generally From California Water Code >> Division 2. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 2.
1058.5
. (a) This section applies to any emergency regulation
adopted by the board for which the board makes both of the following
findings:
(1) The emergency regulation is adopted to prevent the waste,
unreasonable use, unreasonable method of use, or unreasonable method
of diversion, of water, to promote water recycling or water
conservation, to require curtailment of diversions when water is not
available under the diverter's priority of right, or in furtherance
of any of the foregoing, to require reporting of diversion or use or
the preparation of monitoring reports.
(2) The emergency regulation is adopted in response to conditions
which exist, or are threatened, in a critically dry year immediately
preceded by two or more consecutive below normal, dry, or critically
dry years or 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.
(b) Notwithstanding Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government
Code, any findings of emergency adopted by the board, in connection
with the adoption of an emergency regulation under this section, are
not subject to review by the Office of Administrative Law.
(c) An emergency regulation adopted by the board under this
section may remain in effect for up to 270 days, as determined by the
board, and is deemed repealed immediately upon a finding by the
board that due to changed conditions it is no longer necessary for
the regulation to remain in effect. An emergency regulation adopted
by the board under this section may be renewed if the board
determines that the conditions specified in paragraph (2) of
subdivision (a) are still in effect.
(d) In addition to any other applicable civil or criminal
penalties, any person or entity who violates a regulation adopted by
the board pursuant to this section is guilty of an infraction
punishable by a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500) for each
day in which the violation occurs.
(e) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 1551,
subdivision (d) of Section 1845, and subdivision (f) of Section 1846,
a civil liability imposed under Chapter 12 (commencing with Section
1825) of Part 2 of Division 2 by the board or a court for a violation
of an emergency conservation regulation adopted pursuant to this
section shall be deposited, and separately accounted for, in the
Water Rights Fund. Funds deposited in accordance with this
subdivision shall be available, upon appropriation, for water
conservation activities and programs.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, an "emergency conservation
regulation" means an emergency regulation that requires an end user
of water, a water retailer, or a water wholesaler to conserve water
or report to the board on water conservation. Water conservation
includes restrictions or limitations on particular uses of water or a
reduction in the amount of water used or served, but does not
include curtailment of diversions when water is not available under
the diverter's priority of right or reporting requirements related to
curtailments.