(a) (1) An air pollution control officer, at any time, may, for the purpose of permitting or enforcement actions, require from the in-state or out-of-state supplier, wholesaler, or distributor of volatile organic compounds or chemical substances the use of which results in air contaminants subject to regulation or enforcement by the district, customer lists and chemical types and quantities of those compounds and substances as specified by the district pursuant to subdivision (b) that are purchased by, or on order for, a specified source operator within the district.

(2) The supplier, wholesaler, or distributor shall disclose the information required pursuant to this section to the district.

(b) Prior to implementing subdivision (a), an air pollution control officer shall prepare a comprehensive list of volatile organic compounds or chemical substances, the use of which results in the emission of air contaminants that are subject to regulation or enforcement by the district.

(c) (1) Any officer or employee of the district or of a district contractor, or former officer or employee, who, by virtue of that employment or official position has possession of, or has access to, any confidential information that is a trade secret, customer list, or supplier name acquired pursuant to this section, and who, knowing that the disclosure of the information to the general public is prohibited by this section, knowingly and willfully discloses the information in any manner to any person not entitled to receive it, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a six month county jail term and a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(2) Any officer or employee of the district or of a district contractor, or former officer or employee, who, by virtue of that employment or official position has possession of, or has access to, any other confidential information acquired pursuant to this section, and who, knowing that the disclosure of the information to the general public is prohibited by this section, knowingly and willfully discloses the information in any manner to any person not entitled to receive it, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a 10-day county jail term or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500).

(d) The penalties provided in subdivision (c) shall be in addition to any existing civil penalties and remedies available under the law.

(e) Except for the purposes of any enforcement or permit action, and except for information obtained from an independent source, all information received or compiled by an air pollution control officer from a supplier, wholesaler, or distributor pursuant to subdivision (a) is confidential for the purposes of Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code, and shall not be disclosed.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 261. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)