(a) The department may enter into a contract for telecommunication, programming, data analysis, data processing, and other services necessary to operate and maintain the centralized computer data base and computer network specified in Section 44037.1.
(b) The department may, for each transmittal of data to the centralized data base, charge a licensed smog check station a transaction fee established by the department. The transaction fee shall be sufficient to cover the actual costs of operating and maintaining the current data base and network.
(c) Any contract made pursuant to this section may authorize compensation to the contractor from the transaction fees established by the department. The contractor shall maintain the transaction fees, which may be collected directly by the contractor from the licensed smog check stations, in a separate custodial account that the contractor shall account for and manage in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards and principles.
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1088, Sec. 10. Effective September 30, 1996.)