On or before April 1, 2004, and annually thereafter, or more frequently as determined to be necessary by the department, the department shall review and, if necessary in order to ensure payment of the most accurate commingled rate feasible, recalculate commingled rates paid for beverage containers and postfilled containers paid to curbside recycling programs and collection programs. Prior to recalculating a commingled rate pursuant to this section, the department shall do all of the following:

(a) Consult with private and public operators of curbside recycling programs and collection programs concerning the size of the statewide sample, appropriate sampling methodologies, and alternatives to exclusive reliance on a statewide commingled rate.

(b) At least 60 days prior to the effective date of any new commingled rate, hold a public hearing, after giving notice, to make available to the public and affected parties the department’s review and any proposed recalculations of the commingled rate.

(c) At least 60 days prior to the effective date of any new commingled rate, and upon the request of any party, make available documentation or studies which were prepared as part of the department’s review of a commingled rate.

(d) (1) Notwithstanding this division, the department may calculate a curbside recycling program commingled rate pursuant to this subdivision for bimetal containers and a combined commingled rate for all plastic beverage containers displaying the resin identification code “3,” “4,” “5,” “6,” or “7” pursuant to Section 18015.

(2) The department may enter into a contract for the services required to implement the amendments to this section made by Chapter 753 of the Statutes of 2003. The department may not expend more than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for each year of the contract. The contract shall be paid only from revenues derived from redemption payments and processing fees paid on plastic beverage containers displaying the resin identification code “3,” “4,” “5,” “6,” or “7” pursuant to Section 18015. If the department determines that insufficient funds will be available from these revenues, after refund values are paid to processors and the reduction is made in the processing fee pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 14575 for these containers, the department may determine not to calculate a commingled rate pursuant to this subdivision.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 356, Sec. 18. (SB 96) Effective September 26, 2013.)