Small businesses: civil fines and penalties. penalties: waiver.

Existing law imposes various taxes and fees that are administered by the State Board of Equalization, the Franchise Tax Board, and the Employment Development Department. Existing law authorizes these state agencies to impose fines and penalties for violations of those laws imposing the tax or fee. Under existing law, if the Director of Employment Development finds that any employer, in submitting facts concerning the termination of a specified claimant's employment concerning unemployment compensation, among other things, willfully makes a false statement or representation, the director is required to assess a penalty against the employer of that claimant in a specified amount. This bill would authorize the State Board of Equalization, the Franchise Tax Board, and the Employment Development Department to waive any fine or penalty for violations of the laws that impose a tax or fee, assessed against a small business, as defined, within its first 120 days of operation if certain requirements are met.