(a) The board shall adopt, by emergency regulation, the schedules of fees authorized under this article. The emergency regulation may include provisions concerning the administration and collection of the fees. The fee schedules may be graduated in accordance with the number of diversions or the amount of water involved. The board shall periodically adjust the amount of the fees specified in the schedule in accordance with this article.

(b) The emergency regulations adopted pursuant to this section, any amendment thereto, or subsequent adjustments to the regulations, shall be adopted by the board in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The adoption of these regulations is an emergency and shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, and general welfare. Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, any emergency regulations adopted by the board, or any adjustment to an annual fee made by the board pursuant to this section, shall remain in effect until revised by the board.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 741, Sec. 85. Effective January 1, 2004.)