(a) The local jurisdiction or local agency that has adopted an ordinance to impose a local charge that applies to prepaid mobile telephony service shall be solely responsible for:

(1) Defending any claim regarding the validity of the ordinance in its application to prepaid mobile telephony service.

(2) Interpreting any provision of the ordinance, except to the extent specifically superseded by this statute.

(3) Responding to any claim for refund by a consumer arising under subdivision (b), (c), or (d). The claim shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of the local enactment that allows the claim to be filed.

(4) Certifying that the local jurisdiction’s or local agency’s ordinance applies the local charge to prepaid mobile telephony services and agreeing to indemnify and hold harmless the department, its officers, agents, and employees for any and all liability for damages that may result from collection of the local charge.

(5) Reallocation of local charges as a result of correcting errors relating to the location of the point of sale of a seller or the known address of a consumer, for up to two past quarters from the date of knowledge.

(6) Enforcement, including audits, of the collection and remittance of local charges by direct sellers pursuant to the local jurisdiction’s or local agency’s ordinance.

(b) A consumer may rebut the presumed location of the retail transaction to the city or county clerk of the local jurisdiction, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 42101.8 by filing a claim and declaration under penalty of perjury on a form established by the city or county clerk of the local jurisdiction or local agency indicating the actual location of the retail sale. The claim shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of the local enactment that allows the claim to be filed.

(c) A consumer that is exempt from the local charge under the local enactment may file a claim for a refund from the local jurisdiction or local agency in accordance with the refund provisions of the local enactment that allows the claim to be filed.

(d) In connection with any actions or claims relating to or arising from the invalidity of a local tax ordinance, in whole or in part, the seller shall not be liable to any consumer as a consequence of collecting the tax. In the event a local jurisdiction or local agency is ordered to refund the tax, it shall be the sole responsibility of the local jurisdiction or local agency to refund the tax. In any action seeking to enjoin collection of a local charge by a seller, in any action seeking declaratory relief concerning a local charge, in any action seeking a refund of a local charge, or in any action seeking to otherwise invalidate a local charge, the sole necessary party defendant in the action shall be the local jurisdiction or local agency on whose behalf the local charge is collected, and the seller collecting the local charge shall not be named as a party in the action. There shall be no recovery from the state for the imposition of any unconstitutional or otherwise invalid local charge that is collected pursuant to this part.

(Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 179, Sec. 11. (SB 1441) Effective January 1, 2021. Repealed as of January 1, 2026, pursuant to Section 42111.)