(a)  Notwithstanding Sections 11473 and 11473.5, at any time after seizure by a law enforcement agency of a suspected hazardous chemical, the chemical’s container, or any item contaminated with a hazardous substance believed to have been used or intended to have been used in the unlawful manufacture of controlled substances, that amount in excess of one fluid ounce if liquid, or one avoirdupois ounce if solid, of each different type of suspected hazardous chemical, its container, and any item contaminated with a hazardous substance may be disposed of without a court order by the seizing agency. For the purposes of this section, “hazardous chemical” means any material that is believed by the chief of the law enforcement agency, or his or her designee, to be toxic, carcinogenic, explosive, corrosive, or flammable, and that is believed by the chief of the law enforcement agency, or his or her designee, to have been used or intended to have been used in the unlawful manufacture of controlled substances.

(b)  Destruction pursuant to this section of suspected hazardous chemicals or suspected hazardous chemicals and controlled substances in combination, or the chemical containers and items contaminated with a hazardous substance, shall not take place until all of the following requirements are met:

(1)  At least a one ounce sample is taken from each different type of suspected hazardous chemical to be destroyed.

(2)  At least a one ounce sample has been taken from each container of a mixture of a suspected hazardous chemical with a suspected controlled substance.

(3)  Photographs have been taken which reasonably demonstrate the total amount of suspected controlled substances and suspected hazardous chemicals to be destroyed.

(4)  The gross weight or volume of the suspected hazardous chemical seized has been determined.

(5)  Photographs have been taken of the chemical containers and items contaminated with a hazardous substance that reasonably demonstrate their size.

(c)  Subsequent to any disposal of a suspected hazardous chemical, its container, or any item contaminated with a hazardous substance pursuant to this section, the law enforcement agency involved shall maintain records concerning the details of its compliance with, and reciting the applicable information required by paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of subdivision (b), together with the information establishing the location of the suspected hazardous chemical, its container, and any item contaminated with a hazardous substance, and specifying the date and time of the disposal.

(d)  (1)  Subsequent to any destruction of a suspected controlled substance in combination with a hazardous chemical or any item contaminated with a hazardous substance pursuant to this section, an affidavit containing applicable information required by paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of subdivision (b) shall be filed within 30 days in the court that issued the search warrant.

(2)  If the disposed materials were seized without a warrant, an affidavit containing applicable information required by paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of subdivision (b) shall be filed in the court that has jurisdiction over any criminal proceedings pertaining to the suspected controlled substance after the criminal proceedings are initiated.

(e)  A law enforcement agency responsible for the disposal of any hazardous chemical shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) of Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code, as well as all applicable state and federal statutes and regulations.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 443, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2003.)