Section 1596.99.

(a)  In addition to the suspension, temporary suspension, or revocation of a license issued under this chapter or Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 1596.70), the department may levy a civil penalty.

(b) The amount of the civil penalty shall not be less than twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than fifty dollars ($50) per day for each violation of this chapter except where the nature or seriousness of the violation or the frequency of the violation warrants a higher penalty or an immediate civil penalty assessment, or both, as determined by the department. In no event shall a civil penalty assessment exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day per violation.

(c) Notwithstanding Sections 1596.893a, 1596.893b, and 1596.98, the department shall assess an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty ($150) per day per violation for any of the following serious violations:

(1) Fire clearance violations, including, but not limited to, overcapacity, inoperable smoke alarms, and inoperable fire alarm systems.

(2) Absence of supervision, including, but not limited to, a child left unattended, supervision of a child by a person under 18 years of age, and lack of supervision resulting in a child wandering away.

(3) Accessible bodies of water.

(4) Accessible firearms, ammunition, or both.

(5) Refused entry to a facility or any part of a facility in violation of Section 1596.852, 1596.853, or 1597.09.

(6) The presence of an excluded person on the premises.

(d) Notwithstanding Sections 1596.893a, 1596.893b, and 1596.98, any day care center that is cited for repeating the same violation of this chapter or Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 1596.70), within 12 months of the first violation is subject to an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for each day the violation continues until the deficiency is corrected.

(e) Any day care center that is assessed a civil penalty under subdivision (d) and that repeats the same violation of this chapter within 12 months of the violation subject to subdivision (d) shall be assessed an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for each day the violation continues until the deficiency is corrected.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, revenues received by the state from the payment of civil penalties imposed on licensed child care centers pursuant to this chapter or Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 1596.70), shall be deposited in the Child Health and Safety Fund, created pursuant to Chapter 4.6 (commencing with Section 18285) of Part 6 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and shall be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 18285 of the Welfare and Institutions Code exclusively for the technical assistance, orientation, training, and education of licensed day care center providers.

(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 291, Sec. 23. Effective September 25, 2008.)