Weights and measures: reporting fraud.

Existing law provides for the regulation of commercial weighing and measuring devices by the Department of Food and Agriculture, and provides for the enforcement of those provisions by the State Sealer and by county sealers of weights and measures in each county. Existing law requires a person who engages in the business of repairing commercial weighing and measuring devices to be registered as a service agency, and requires a person who is employed by a service agency to repair those devices to be licensed as a service agent. Existing law generally makes it a crime to violate the weights and measures provisions. This bill would require a county sealer to coordinate with the appropriate law enforcement authorities as needed in investigating and prosecuting fraudulent activity if the county sealer receives information or evidence that a weighing or measuring device, parking meter, or other installment under his or her jurisdiction has been altered in such a way as to facilitate fraud. The bill would require a service agency or service agent to report to the county sealer within 24 hours if a weighing or measuring device has been altered in such a way as to facilitate fraud, and to surrender the device or component of the device, as specified, to the county sealer or local law enforcement within 24 hours of discovering that the device has been altered. Because a violation of these requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Also, by imposing additional duties on county sealers, 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.