(a) The Director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation or a county agricultural commissioner listed in Section 8698 may levy a civil penalty against a person or company violating this chapter, including any regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter for failing to comply with Section 8698.1.

(b) Before a civil penalty is levied, the person charged with the violation shall receive notice of the nature of the violation and shall be given an opportunity to be heard, including the right to review the director’s evidence and a right to present evidence on his or her own behalf.

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(c) Review of the decision of the director may be sought by the person against whom the penalty was levied, within 30 days of receiving notice of the decision, pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(d) After the exhaustion of the review procedure provided in this section, the director, or his or her representative, may file a certified copy of a final decision of the director that directs the payment of a civil penalty and, if applicable, any order that denies a petition for a writ of administrative mandamus, with the clerk of the superior court of any county. Judgment shall be entered immediately by the clerk in conformity with the decision or order. No fees shall be charged by the clerk of the superior court for the performance of any official service required in connection with the entry of judgment pursuant to this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 572, Sec. 17. (SB 1481) Effective January 1, 2019. Repealed as of January 1, 2029, pursuant to Section 8698.6.)