(a) Any person who knowingly makes any false statement or representation in any application, record, or other document submitted, maintained, or used for purposes of compliance with this article, may be liable, as determined by the court, for a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each separate violation or, for continuing violations, for each day that violation continues.

(b) Any person who operates a laboratory for purposes specified pursuant to Section 25198, 25298.5, 78510, 110490, or 116390 of this code, or § 13176 of the Water Code that requires certification, who is not certified by the department pursuant to this article, may be liable, as determined by the court, for a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each separate violation or, for continuing violations, for each day that violation continues.

(c) A laboratory that advertises or holds itself out to the public or its clients as having been certified for any field of testing without having a valid and current certificate in each field of testing identified by the advertisement or other representation may be liable, as determined by the court, for a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or, for continuing violations, for each day that violation continues.

(d) Each civil penalty imposed for any separate violation pursuant to this section shall be separate and in addition to any other civil penalty imposed pursuant to this section or any other provision of law.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 258, Sec. 110. (AB 2327) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2024, pursuant to Sec. 130 of Stats. 2022, Ch. 258.)