(a) An owner or operator, or employee thereof, who refuses to permit the supervisor or the district deputy, or the district deputy’s inspector, to inspect a well, or who willfully hinders or delays the enforcement of this chapter, and every person, whether as principal, agent, servant, employee, or otherwise, who violates, fails, neglects, or refuses to comply with this chapter, or who fails, neglects, or refuses to furnish any report or record required pursuant to this chapter, or who willfully renders a false or fraudulent report, is guilty of a misdemeanor, which upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500), nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by imprisonment for not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, for each offense.

(b) The supervisor may refer violations of this chapter to a public prosecutor or the Attorney General for prosecution. Upon agreement of any prosecutors, a court may consider consolidating multiple actions relating to the same violation that occurred in different jurisdictions.

(c) As used in this article, “public prosecutor” means a district attorney, a city attorney, a county counsel, or any other city or county prosecutor.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 337, Sec. 4. (AB 631) Effective January 1, 2024.)