(a) Before submitting the plan to the department for approval, the PRO shall submit a proposed plan to the advisory board for review and comment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 42070. The advisory board may provide written comments within 60 calendar days. The PRO shall consider the comments, along with any public comments, and may incorporate these comments into the plan.

(b) (1) The PRO shall submit the plan to the department with revisions, if any, in response to comments by the advisory board or public within 120 calendar days of receipt of the advisory board’s comments.

(2) The department shall review the plan for compliance with this chapter. Within 90 calendar days of receipt of the plan from the PRO, the department shall, in accordance with Section 42063, respond with an approval, disapproval, conditional approval, request for additional information, or timeline for a decision on approval or disapproval.

(3) If the department conditionally approves the plan pursuant to paragraph (2), the department shall explain, in writing, how the plan or parts of the plan does not comply with this chapter, and the PRO shall ensure the conditions are met and resubmit a revised plan within 12 months.

(4) If the department disapproves the plan pursuant to paragraph (2), the department shall explain, in writing, how the plan does not comply with this chapter, and the PRO shall resubmit a plan to the department. If the department finds that the plan resubmitted by the PRO does not comply with the requirements of this chapter, the PRO shall not be deemed in compliance with this chapter until the organization submits a plan that the department finds complies with the requirements of this chapter.

(5) The approved plan shall be a public record, except that financial, production, or sales data reported to the department by the PRO is not a public record for purposes of the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code) and shall not be open to public inspection. The department shall release financial, production, or sales data in summary form only so the information cannot be attributable to a specific producer, retailer, or wholesaler, or to any other entity.

(c) Within 90 calendar days after approval or conditional approval of the plan by the department, the PRO shall implement the approved plan and post the plan on the PRO’s internet website.

(d) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (e), a plan approved by the department under this section is valid for five years.

(2) No less than 180 calendar days before a plan’s five-year expiration date, the PRO shall submit a proposed updated plan to be reviewed by the advisory board and approved by the department for an additional five years. An updated plan submitted for approval under this paragraph shall satisfy the requirements of this chapter, including Section 42051.1, and describe any changes from the previously approved plan. The department may allow for an extension of a previously approved plan until a plan submitted under this paragraph is approved or rejected.

(e) (1) An amendment to the plan that modifies actions to meet the obligations set forth in Section 42050, modifies the setting and collection of fees, changes the implementation of this chapter with respect to costs incurred by local governments or recycling service providers, or changes the funding of costs to implement the plan, including costs to source reduce covered material, shall not be made to an approved plan unless the proposed amendment is submitted to the advisory board for comment, and approved by the department. That submission and review shall be conducted according to the same process set forth in subdivision (d).

(2) The department’s rejection or revocation of a plan or plan amendment submitted for approval under this section does not relieve the PRO or a participant producer from its obligations pursuant to the previously approved plan or the requirements of this chapter.

(3) The submission of a plan amendment for approval under this section does not relieve the PRO or a participant producer from its obligations pursuant to the approved plan prior to action by the department on the plan amendment.

(4) The department may approve or disapprove a proposed plan amendment based on a determination of whether the amendment is sufficient to result in actions reasonably likely to meet the requirements of this chapter.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 75, Sec. 2. (SB 54) Effective January 1, 2023.)