(a) The state board may suspend, revoke, or refuse to grant or renew any water treatment operator certificate to operate a water treatment plant or may place on probation or reprimand the certificate holder upon any reasonable grounds, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(1) The submission of false or misleading information on an application for a water treatment operator certificate or an examination for a water treatment operator certificate.
(2) The use of fraud or deception in the course of operating a water treatment plant or a water recycling treatment plant.
(3) The failure to use reasonable care or judgment in the operation of a water treatment plant or a water recycling treatment plant.
(4) The inability to perform operating duties properly in a water treatment plant or a water recycling treatment plant.
(5) Engaging in dishonest conduct during an examination for a water treatment operator certificate.
(6) The conduct of willful or negligent acts that cause or allow the violation of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (Subchapter XII (commencing with Section 300f) of Chapter 6A of Title 42 of the United States Code), the California Safe Drinking Water Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 116270) of Part 12), or the regulations and standards adopted pursuant to either act.
(7) Willfully or negligently violating or causing or allowing the violation of waste discharge requirements or permits issued pursuant to the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. Sec. 1251 et seq.) or the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Division 7 (commencing with Section 13000) of the Water Code) while operating a water recycling treatment plant.
(b) The state board may suspend, revoke, or refuse to grant or renew any water distribution operator certificate to operate a water distribution system or may place on probation or reprimand the certificate holder upon any reasonable grounds, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(1) The submission of false or misleading information on an application for a water distribution operator certificate or an examination for a water distribution operator certificate.
(2) The use of fraud or deception in the course of operating a water distribution system.
(3) The failure to use reasonable care of judgment in the operation of a water distribution system.
(4) The inability to perform operating duties properly in a water distribution system.
(5) Engaging in dishonest conduct during an examination for a water distribution operator certificate.
(6) The conduct of willful or negligent acts that cause or allow the violation of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (Subchapter XII (commencing with Section 300f) of Chapter 6A of Title 42 of the United States Code), the California Safe Drinking Water Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 116270) of Part 12), or the regulations and standards adopted pursuant to either act.
(c) Prior to suspension or revocation of a valid operator certificate, the state board shall provide the certificate holder with an opportunity for a hearing before the state board, in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to Section 185 of the Water Code.
(Added by renumbering Section 106876 by Stats. 2016, Ch. 305, Sec. 2. (AB 2890) Effective January 1, 2017.)