25214.8.11.2. (a) (1) (A) On or before September 30, 2022, and on or before September 30 of each year thereafter until September 30, 2028, each manufacturer shall, in accordance with this section, individually, or collectively with a group of manufacturers, do both of the following:
(i) Pay to the department an aggregate total, calculated in accordance with paragraph (2), and not to exceed four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000), to cover the actual and reasonable regulatory costs incurred by the department to administer, implement, and enforce this act for the fiscal year in which the payment is made.
(ii) Pay to the qualified third party the amount required pursuant to the annual payment schedule outlined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) and provide to the department written notice of each payment.
(B) On or before September 30, 2022, each manufacturer shall, in accordance with this section, individually, or collectively with a group of manufacturers, pay to the department an amount equal to the department’s actual and reasonable regulatory costs incurred to administer, implement, and enforce this act from January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022, inclusive.
(C) If September 30 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a payment required pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall be due on the following Monday.
(D) A late payment pursuant to clause (i) of subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (B) shall be subject to interest beginning October 1 at a rate of 10 percent per annum pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 25360.1.
(2) The total aggregate amount required to be paid to the department pursuant to clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) shall be based on the sum of both of the following, less the amount of any fees paid by a manufacturer, or group of manufacturers, for the prior fiscal year that exceeded the department’s actual and reasonable regulatory costs to administer, implement, and enforce this act for that prior fiscal year:
(A) An amount that conforms to the total amount of moneys appropriated by the Legislature for expenditure that fiscal year from the fund, which shall not exceed the department’s actual and reasonable regulatory costs to administer, implement, and enforce this act for that fiscal year.
(B) An amount necessary to ensure a reasonable reserve in the fund that fiscal year for contingencies, including to ensure that funded programs will not be adversely affected by additional baseline expenditure adjustments that may occur in that fiscal year, as determined by the Department of Finance.
(3) (A) The department shall deposit all moneys paid by a manufacturer, or group of manufacturers, to the department pursuant to clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) and subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) into the Mercury Thermostat Collection Program Fund, which is hereby established.
(B) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the Mercury Thermostat Collection Program Fund shall be used only for the following purposes:
(i) The department’s actual and reasonable regulatory costs in administering, implementing, and enforcing this act.
(ii) Reimbursement of any loans made to the Mercury Thermostat Collection Program Fund or repayment of any expenditures made from any other fund to finance the department’s actual and reasonable regulatory costs incurred to administer, implement, and enforce this act from January 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022, inclusive.
(iii) The actual and reasonable regulatory costs incurred by any other agency assisting the department in administering, implementing, and enforcing this act.
(C) Notwithstanding any other law, moneys in the Mercury Thermostat Collection Program Fund shall not be loaned to, or borrowed by, any other special fund or the General Fund.
(D) Moneys in the Mercury Thermostat Collection Program Fund shall not be expended for any purpose not enumerated in this act.
(b) (1) A manufacturer may individually remit a payment required pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), or a group of manufacturers may remit a payment on behalf of a group of manufacturers. Manufacturers shall apportion a payment or payments required pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) among themselves in a fair and reasonable manner.
(2) If a payment required pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) is made on behalf of a group of manufacturers, the names of the manufacturers shall be included with the payment and in the written notice to the department required pursuant to clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) so the department can determine each manufacturer’s compliance with this act. If a manufacturer that is part of a group of manufacturers making a payment required pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) fails to make a payment, the group of manufacturers shall provide to the department a written notice of the nonpaying manufacturer’s identity and the apportioned payment amount for which the nonpaying manufacturer is responsible.
(c) If a manufacturer fails to make a payment pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) in accordance with this section, or pursuant to subdivision (f), the manufacturer’s thermostats shall be subject to a sales ban pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 25214.8.12.
(d) (1) The Legislature intends that, by timely making all payments required pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) and all payments required pursuant to subdivision (f), a manufacturer shall be deemed to have satisfied, and will have discharged or be released from, any liability, obligation, or violation established or alleged pursuant to this article, including the regulations adopted by the department pursuant to former Section 25214.8.17, as it existed before January 1, 2022.
(2) If a manufacturer timely makes all payments required pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) and all payments required pursuant to subdivision (f), any consent order, summary of violation or violations, or other instrument or document, including, but not limited to, the February 10, 2016, Consent Order entered into between the department and 25 mercury-added thermostat manufacturers pursuant to Section 25187 and former Section 25214.8.17, establishing or alleging liability, obligations, or violations of that manufacturer pursuant to this article, including the regulations adopted by the department pursuant to former Section 25214.8.17, as it existed before January 1, 2022, shall be deemed stayed prior to the expiration of this act and deemed satisfied, discharged, released, or terminated upon the expiration of this act.
(e) (1) A manufacturer, or group of manufacturers, shall do all of the following:
(A) Provide to the qualified third party two million dollars ($2,000,000) in the first program year to effectively and efficiently develop and implement the education and outreach campaign required pursuant to subdivisions (c) to (f), inclusive, of Section 25214.8.11.5.
(B) Provide to the qualified third party one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) annually in each of the subsequent five program years to carry out the education and outreach campaign required pursuant to subdivisions (c) to (f), inclusive, of Section 25214.8.11.5.
(C) Provide to the qualified third party one million one hundred thousand dollars ($1,100,000) in the seventh program year to carry out the education and outreach campaign required pursuant to subdivisions (c) to (f), inclusive, of Section 25214.8.11.5.
(D) Provide to the qualified third party an amount equal to the annual costs estimated by the qualified third party to develop and implement the program pursuant to this act.
(2) Any funds provided to the qualified third party pursuant to paragraph (1) that are not expended by the qualified third party in the program year in which the funds were received may be used by the qualified third party the following program year for the education and outreach campaign required pursuant to subdivisions (c) to (f), inclusive, of Section 25214.8.11.5.
(f) A manufacturer, or group of manufacturers, on or before January 1, 2023, and on or before January 1 of each year thereafter until January 1, 2029, shall provide to the qualified third party an amount equal to the actual costs incurred by the qualified third party that exceed the amount provided to the qualified third party pursuant to subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (e).
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 60, Sec. 29. (AB 203) Effective June 30, 2022. Repealed as of January 1, 2033, pursuant to Section 25214.8.19.)