(a) (1) An authorized representative of the UPA, who in the course of conducting an inspection, detects a minor violation, shall take an enforcement action as to the minor violation only in accordance with this section.

(2) In any proceeding concerning an enforcement action taken pursuant to this section, there shall be a rebuttable presumption upholding the determination made by the UPA regarding whether the violation is a minor violation.

(b) A notice to comply shall be the only means by which a UPA may cite a minor violation, unless the person cited fails to correct the violation or fails to submit the certification of correction within the time period prescribed in the notice, in which case the UPA may take any enforcement action, including imposing a penalty, as authorized by this chapter.

(c) (1) A person who receives a notice to comply detailing a minor violation shall have not more than 30 days from the date of the notice to comply in which to correct any violation cited in the notice to comply. Within five working days of correcting the violation, the person cited or an authorized representative shall sign the notice to comply, certifying that any violation has been corrected, and return the notice to the UPA.

(2) A false certification that a violation has been corrected is punishable as a misdemeanor.

(3) The effective date of the certification that any violation has been corrected shall be the date that it is postmarked.

(d) If a notice to comply is issued, a single notice to comply shall be issued for all minor violations noted during the inspection, and the notice to comply shall list all of the minor violations and the manner in which each of the minor violations may be brought into compliance.

(e)  If a person who receives a notice to comply pursuant to subdivision (a) disagrees with one or more of the alleged violations listed on the notice to comply, the person shall provide the UPA a written notice of disagreement along with the returned signed notice to comply. If the person disagrees with all of the alleged violations, the written notice of disagreement shall be returned in lieu of the signed certification of correction within 30 days of the date of issuance of the notice to comply. If the issuing agency takes administrative enforcement action on the basis of the disputed violation, that action may be appealed in the same manner as any other alleged violation under Section 25404.1.1.

(f) This section may not be construed as doing any of the following:

(1) Preventing the reinspection of a facility to ensure compliance with this chapter or to ensure that minor violations cited in a notice to comply have been corrected and that the facility is in compliance with those laws and regulations within the jurisdiction of the UPA.

(2) Preventing the UPA from requiring a person to submit necessary documentation needed to support the person’s claim of compliance pursuant to subdivision (c).

(3) Restricting the power of a city attorney, district attorney, county counsel, or the Attorney General to bring, in the name of the people of California, any criminal proceeding otherwise authorized by law.

(4) Preventing the UPA from cooperating with, or participating in, a proceeding specified in paragraph (3).

(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 388, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2006.)