(a) (1) For covered electronic waste collected for recycling on and after January 1, 2005, the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery shall make electronic waste recovery payments and electronic waste recycling payments for the collection and recycling of covered e-waste to an authorized collector or covered e-waste recycler, respectively, upon completion of the review by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery of a payment claim submitted to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery by the authorized collector or e-waste recycler in the form and manner determined by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery may examine a payment claim for a period of not more than 90 days from the date of receipt of the payment claim to validate the claim’s completeness, accuracy, truthfulness, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. All of the following shall be considered official records for purposes of Section 1280 of the Evidence Code:

(A) The results of a payment claim review or subsequent payment claim audit.

(B) Written information compiled by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery during a claim review or subsequent claim audit.

(2) To the extent authorized by Section 42477, a covered e-waste recycler shall make the electronic waste recovery payments to an authorized collector upon receipt of a completed and verified invoice submitted to the recycler by the authorized collector in the form and manner determined by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.

(b) A covered e-waste recycler is eligible for a payment pursuant to this section only if the covered e-waste recycler meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The covered e-waste recycler is in compliance with applicable requirements of Article 6 (commencing with Section 66273.70) of Chapter 23 of Division 4.5 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

(2) The covered e-waste recycler demonstrates to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery that a facility utilized by the covered e-waste recycler for the handling, processing, refurbishment, or recycling of covered electronic devices meets all of the following standards:

(A) The facility has been inspected by the department within the past 12 months and had been found to be operating in conformance with all applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.

(B) The facility is accessible during normal business hours for unannounced inspections by state or local agencies.

(C) The facility has health and safety, employee training, and environmental compliance plans and certifies compliance with the plans.

(D) The facility meets or exceeds the standards specified in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1171) of Part 4 of Division 2 of, Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) of, and Division 5 (commencing with Section 6300) of, the Labor Code or, if all or part of the work is to be performed in another state, the equivalent requirements of that state.

(c) The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery may conduct a selective audit of authorized collectors, covered e-waste recyclers, or manufacturers receiving payments from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to determine whether electronic waste recovery payments, electronic waste recycling payments, or payments to manufacturers are being paid by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery according to the requirements of this chapter and the regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter. The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery may collect and recover from authorized collectors, covered e-waste recyclers, or manufacturers, with interest, any moneys improperly paid.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 523, Sec. 7. (AB 549) Effective January 1, 2013. Conditionally inoperative as provided in Sections 42485 and 42486.)