(a) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this part, a building standard published in the State Building Standards Code relating to factory-built housing, or any other rules or regulations adopted pursuant to this part is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or by both that fine and imprisonment.

(b) (1) For violations of Section 19980, 19991.3, or 19991.4, the department shall assess civil penalties in a range between two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and two thousand dollars ($2,000). When determining the amount of the assessed civil penalty, the department shall take into consideration whether one or more of the following or similar circumstances apply:

Terms Used In California Health and Safety Code 19997

  • department: means State Department of Health Services. See California Health and Safety Code 20
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Person: means any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, limited liability company, or company. See California Health and Safety Code 19
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Health and Safety Code 23

(A) The citation includes multiple violations.

(B) The cited person has a history of violations of the same or similar provisions of this part and the regulations promulgated under this part.

(C) In the judgment of the department, the person has exhibited bad faith or a conflict of interest.

(D) In the judgment of the department, the violation is serious or harmful.

(E) The citation involves a violation perpetrated against a senior citizen, veteran, or person with disabilities.

(F) There is exculpatory evidence that, in the judgment of the department, is material to the elements of the current violation for which the citation is being issued and is significantly related to the degree of fault.

(2) If a citation lists more than one violation and each of the violations relates to the same manufacturing facility or client, the total penalty assessment in each citation shall not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

(3) If a citation lists more than one violation, the amount of assessed civil penalty shall be stated separately for each section violated.

(4) Appeals procedures shall be the same as those provided under subdivisions (c) to (e), inclusive, of Section 18021.7.

(c) Nothing in this section is intended to preclude remedies available under other provisions of law.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 140, Sec. 109. (AB 1164) Effective January 1, 2010.)