Junk dealers and recyclers: nonferrous materials.

Existing law requires junk dealers and recyclers, as defined, to maintain written records of all sales and purchases made in the course of their business, and makes a violation of the recordkeeping requirements a misdemeanor. Existing law prohibits a junk dealer or recycler from providing payment for nonferrous material, as defined, unless the payment is made by cash or check, the check is mailed or the cash or check is provided no earlier than 3 days after the date of sale, and the dealer or recycler obtains a photograph or video of the seller and certain other identifying information, as specified, which information is to be retained by the dealer or recycler, as part of the written record of purchases, for a specified period of time. Existing law exempts from the payment by cash or check requirement those sellers of junk or recycling materials who conduct 5 or more separate transactions per month with the junk dealer or recycler, as specified. This bill would require a junk dealer or recycler to provide payment by check only, mailed or provided to the seller of the materials no earlier than 30 days after the date of sale, and would prohibit the junk dealer or recycler from recycling, selling, or disposing of the materials during that time period. The bill would delete the exemption from the check-only payment requirement of those sellers of junk or recycling materials who conduct 5 or more separate transactions per month with the junk dealer or recycler. The bill would exempt from the check-only payment requirement, and permit payment by check or cash on or after the 3rd business day from the date of sale, the sale of nonferrous materials under specified circumstances, including if the nonferrous materials were marked with an indicia of ownership, as defined. Under these circumstances, the bill would require the junk dealer or recycler to obtain specified documentation from the seller. The bill would also exempt from the check-only payment requirement, and permit payment by check or cash on or after the 3rd business day from the date of sale, the sale of nonferrous materials that were removed from the home of the seller during construction, if the junk dealer or recycler obtained specified documentation from the seller, including a letter from a licensed contractor stating that the materials were removed from the home of the seller during construction. The bill would provide that a licensed contractor who willfully or knowingly makes a false or fictitious statement in that letter is guilty of a crime. The bill would also require the junk dealer or regular to retain the documentation obtained pursuant to these provisions as part of the written record of purchases. Because a violation of the recordkeeping requirement would be a crime and because this bill creates a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.