(a) The city attorney of the city or the district attorney of the county in which any violations of this chapter occur, occurred, or will occur, or the Attorney General, at the request of the department, may institute on behalf of the people of California any civil action necessary to carry out this chapter, including, but not restricted to, the enforcement of liens, the obtaining of injunctions, or the imposition of civil penalties.
(b) If the civil penalties are awarded and the action is brought by a city attorney or district attorney, the penalty shall be paid directly to the city or county. If no penalty is awarded or paid, or both, the state shall have no obligation to make any payment to the city or county.
If the civil penalty is awarded and the action is brought by the Attorney General, the penalty shall be deposited in the General Fund.
(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 415, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1996.)