(a)  Except as provided in subdivision (f), each office, board, and department within the agency shall, on or before December 31, 1995, implement a fee accountability program for the fees specified in subdivision (d). That fee accountability program shall be designed to encourage more efficient and cost-effective operation of the programs for which the fees are assessed, and shall be designed to ensure that the amount of each fee is not more than is reasonably necessary to fund the efficient operation of the activities or programs for which the fee is assessed.

(b)  Before implementing the fee accountability program required by this section, each board, department, and office within the agency shall conduct a review of the fees identified in subdivision (d) which it assesses. The purpose of this review shall be to determine what changes, if any, should be made to all of the following, in order to implement a fee system which accomplishes the purposes set forth in subdivision (a):

(1)  The amount of the fee.

(2)  The manner in which the fee is assessed.

(3)  The management and workload standards of the program or activity for which the fee is assessed.

(c)  The fee accountability program of each board, department, or office within the agency shall include those elements of the requirements of Section 25206 which the secretary determines are appropriate in order to accomplish the purposes set forth in subdivision (a).

(d)  This section applies to the following fees:

(1)  The fee assessed pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 13146 of the Food and Agricultural Code to develop data concerning the environmental fate of a pesticide when the registrant fails to provide the required information.

(2)  The surface impoundment fees assessed pursuant to Section 25208.3.

(3)  The fee assessed pursuant to Section 43203 to recover the costs of the State Air Resources Board in verifying manufacturer compliance on emissions from new vehicles prior to retail sale.

(4)  The fee assessed pursuant to Section 44380 to recover the costs of the State Air Resources Board and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment in implementing and administering the Air Toxics “Hot Spots” Information and Assessment Act of 1987 (Part 6 (commencing with Section 44300) of Division 26).

(5)  The fee assessed pursuant to Section 43212 of the Public Resources Code to recover the costs of the California Integrated Waste Management Board when it assumes the responsibilities of the local enforcement agency.

(6)  The fee assessed pursuant to Section 43508 of the Public Resources Code to recover the costs of the California Integrated Waste Management Board in reviewing closure plans.

(7)  The water rights permit fees assessed pursuant to Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 1525) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Water Code.

(8)  The fee assessed pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 13260 of the Water Code for waste discharge requirements, including, but not limited to, requirements for storm water discharges, and the fee assessed pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 12360 of the Water Code for National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permits.

(9)  The costs assessed pursuant to Section 13304 of the Water Code to recover the costs of the State Water Resources Control Board or the California regional water quality control boards in implementing and enforcing cleanup and abatement orders.

(e)  If a board, department, or office within the agency determines that the amount of a fee that is fixed in statute should be increased in order to implement a fee accountability system which accomplishes the purposes of subdivision (a), it shall notify the Legislature, and make recommendations concerning appropriate increases in the statutorily fixed fee amount. For fees whose amount is not fixed in statute, the board, department, or office may increase the fee only if it makes written findings in the record that it has implemented a fee accountability program which complies with this section.

(f)  The Department of Toxic Substances Control shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section if it complies with Section 25206.

(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 418, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1994.)