If the state board determines that a laboratory is in violation of this article or any regulation or order issued or adopted pursuant to this article, the state board may, in addition to suspension, denial, or revocation of the certificate or TNI accreditation, issue a citation to the owner of the laboratory. It shall be the function of the recognized accrediting authority to issue citations. The Legislature finds and declares that since TNI is a standard setting body, it cannot, as such, enforce civil or criminal penalties.

(a) The citation shall be served personally or by registered mail.

(b) Each citation shall be in writing and shall describe with particularity the nature of the violation, including a reference to the statutory provision, order, or regulation alleged to have been violated.

(c) The citation shall fix the earliest feasible time for elimination or correction of the condition constituting the violation.

(d) Citations issued pursuant to this section shall specify a civil penalty for each violation, not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), for each day that the violation occurred.

(e) If the owner fails to correct a violation within the time specified in the citation, the state board may assess a civil penalty as follows:

(1) For failure to comply with any citation issued for a violation of this article or a regulation, an amount not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each day that the violation continues beyond the date specified for correction in the citation.

(2) For failure to comply with any citation issued for violation of any state board-issued order, an amount not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200) for each day the violation continues beyond the date specified for correction in the citation.

(f) The owner of a laboratory issued a citation under this section or assessed a penalty under subdivision (e) may petition for reconsideration under Section 116701.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 327, Sec. 16. (AB 1438) Effective January 1, 2018.)