Proposed California Assembly Bill AB 514
On February 23, Assembly Member Das Williams (D-CA) introduced California Assembly Bill 514. AB 154, if enacted, would amend the local fines and penalties for violations of local building and safety ordinances.
SEMBLY BILL No. 514
Introduced by Assembly Member Williams
An act to amend Sections 25132 and 36900 of the Government Code, relating to local government.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST
AB 514, as introduced, Williams. Ordinances: violations: fines. Existing law authorizes the legislative body of a city, county, or city and county to collect any fee, cost, or charge incurred in specified activities, including the abatement of public nuisances, enforcement of specified zoning ordinances, inspections and abatement of violations of the State Housing Law, inspections and abatement of violations of the California Building Standards Code, and inspections and abatement of violations related to local ordinances that implement these laws. Existing law limits the amount of this fee, cost, or charge to the actual cost incurred performing the inspections and enforcement activity, including permit fees, fines, late charges, and interest.
Existing law authorizes the legislative body of a local agency to make, by ordinance, any violation of an ordinance subject to an administrative fine or penalty and limits the maximum fine or penalty amounts for infractions, as specified. For violations of city or county building and safety codes determined to be an infraction, existing law limits the amount of the fine to $100 for a first violation, $500 for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year, and $1,000 for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year of the first violation.
This bill would eliminate these fine amounts for violations of local building and safety code ordinances determined to be an infraction and instead require a maximum fine or penalty amount for a violation of those local building and safety ordinances to be established by ordinance that is subject to specified requirements. By requiring cities and counties to establish these fine or penalty amounts by ordinance, the bill would impose a state mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
Please click here to view the full text of AB 154 [pdf].
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