(a) Notwithstanding Sections 26012 and 26180, on or before January 1, 2021, a licensing authority shall develop and implement a program to provide a deferral or waiver for an application fee, a licensing fee, or renewal fee otherwise required by this division for a needs-based applicant or needs-based licensee.
(b) (1) At least 60 percent of the total dollar amount of deferrals of fees pursuant to the program developed and implemented by a licensing authority pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be allocated to the deferral of fees for local equity applicants and licensees.
(2) At least 60 percent of the total dollar amount of waivers of fees pursuant to the program developed and implemented by a licensing authority pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be allocated to the waiver of fees for local equity applicants and licensees.
(c) A licensing authority may adopt emergency regulations to implement this section. The adoption, amendment, repeal, or readoption of a regulation authorized by this section is deemed to address an emergency, for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the licensing authorities are hereby exempted from the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code.
(d) The operation of this section is contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for purposes of this section.
(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 852, Sec. 1. (SB 595) Effective January 1, 2020. Conditionally operative as prescribed by its own provisions.)