(a) On or before March 31, 2022, and each year thereafter, a program operator shall prepare and submit to the department both of the following:
(1) A written report describing the stewardship program activities during the previous reporting period of one year.
(2) A written program budget for stewardship program implementation for the upcoming calendar year.
(b) An annual report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall include, at a minimum, all of the following for the prior year:
(1) A list of covered entities participating in the stewardship organization.
(2) The updated and reverified list provided pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 42031 of covered products that each covered entity subject to the stewardship plan sells or offers for sale.
(3) The amount, by weight, of covered products collected from ultimate users at each authorized collection site that is part of the stewardship program.
(4) For a stewardship plan for covered drugs, the name and location of authorized collection sites at which covered drugs were collected.
(5) For a stewardship plan for home-generated sharps waste, information on the mail-back program.
(6) Whether policies and procedures for collecting, transporting, and disposing of covered products, as established in the stewardship plan, were followed during the reporting period and a description of each instance of noncompliance, if any occurred.
(7) Whether any safety or security problems occurred during collection, transportation, or disposal of collected covered products during the reporting period and, if so, what changes have been or will be made to policies, procedures, or tracking mechanisms to alleviate the problem and to improve safety and security.
(8) How the program operator complied with all elements in its stewardship plan.
(9) Any other information the department reasonably requires.
(c) An annual program budget submitted pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) shall include, at a minimum, both of the following for the upcoming calendar year:
(1) An independent financial audit of the stewardship program, as required by subdivision (b) of Section 42033.4, funded by the stewardship organization from the charge paid from its member covered entities pursuant to Section 42034 or by a covered entity if it operates its own stewardship program.
(2) Anticipated costs and the recommended funding level necessary to implement the stewardship program, including, but not limited to, costs to cover the stewardship plan’s budgeted costs and to operate the stewardship program over a multiyear period in a prudent and responsible manner.
(d) (1) The department shall determine if a submitted annual report and program budget are complete and notify the submitting stewardship organization or covered entity within 30 days.
(2) If the department finds that an annual report and program budget are complete, the department’s 90-day review period for consideration of approval of the annual report and program budget, set forth in subdivision (e), shall commence upon the original date of receipt.
(3) If the department determines either an annual report or a program budget is incomplete, the department shall identify for the program operator within 30 days the required additional information, and the program operator shall submit a revised annual report or program budget, as applicable, within 30 days.
(4) If the department determines upon resubmission that the annual report or program budget is complete, the department’s 90-day review period for consideration of approval of the annual report or program budget shall commence upon the date of receipt of the resubmitted report or program budget.
(e) (1) The department shall review the annual report and program budget required pursuant to this section and within 90 days of receipt shall approve, disapprove, or conditionally approve the annual report and program budget.
(2) (A) If the department conditionally approves an annual report or program budget, the department shall identify the deficiencies in the annual report or program budget and the program operator shall comply with the conditions of the conditional approval within 60 days of the notice date, unless the Director of Resources Recycling and Recovery determines that additional time is needed.
(B) If the department conditionally approves an annual report or program budget and the conditions are not met within 60 days of the notice date, unless additional time is granted pursuant to subparagraph (A), the department shall disapprove the annual report or program budget.
(3) If the department disapproves an annual report or program budget, the department shall identify the deficiencies in the annual report or program budget and the program operator shall submit a revised annual report or program budget and provide any supplemental information requested within 60 days of the notice date.
(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 1004, Sec. 1. (SB 212) Effective January 1, 2019.)