State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fees.

Existing law provides that the state has the primary financial responsibility for preventing and suppressing fires in areas that the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection has determined are state responsibility areas, as defined. Existing law until July 1, 2017, required that a fire prevention fee be charged on each habitable structure on a parcel that is within a state responsibility area, to be used for specified fire prevention activities, and prescribed procedures for the collection and processing of the fees by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Existing law repeals those provisions requiring the payment of the fee on January 1, 2031. This bill would instead repeal those provisions on January 1, 2019. The bill would also require the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, no later than January 1, 2020, to develop and implement a process for providing for refunds of any fire prevention fees collected by the department, commencing in the 2011-2012 fiscal year until July 1, 2017, from each owner of a habitable structure located in a state responsibility area pursuant to those provisions. The bill would also require the department to adopt regulations setting forth requirements for the application, review, and refund of those fees paid by the owner of a habitable structure, as provided.