Fruit, nut, and vegetable standards: civil penalties.

Existing law provides for the establishment and maintenance of minimum standards of quality and maturity for fruits, nuts, and vegetables, as specified, and authorizes the Secretary of Food and Agriculture or the county agricultural commissioner, in lieu of civil prosecution, to levy a civil penalty against a person for a violation of the laws or regulations relating to fruit, nut, and vegetable standards. Existing law requires the person charged with the violation to be given notice and an opportunity to be heard, and authorizes the person to appeal to the secretary within 10 days of the date of receiving notification of the fine, in accordance with specified procedures. This bill would authorize the commissioner, or his or her representative, to file a certified copy of a final decision of the commissioner that directs the payment of a civil penalty and, if applicable, a copy of any decision of the secretary, or his or her representative, rendered on an appeal from the commissioner's decision, and a copy of any order that denies a petition for a writ of administrative mandamus, with the clerk of the superior court of any county.