RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.

Fine amounts are being increased with scheduled increments starting in 2030, 2035, 2040, and 2045, though specific dollar amounts are left blank for future legislative action.

New provisions allow the commission to collect administrative fees and costs including attorney's fees and damages resulting from violations.

The bill clarifies that each day a violation continues constitutes a separate offense, ensuring penalties accumulate over time for ongoing violations.

The commission must now consider additional factors including economic benefit from violations, opportunity for corrective action, good faith efforts to comply, and degree of culpability when imposing penalties.

The bill includes a severability clause and retroactive savings provisions, while setting an effective date of July 1, 3000 (likely a placeholder or error).

Increased maximum penalties from $60,000 to a schedule of future increases starting at $50,000 in 2030, $100,000 in 2035, $150,000 in 2040, and $200,000 in 2045 (amounts to be filled in by legislature)

Clarified that each day a violation continues constitutes a separate offense for penalty assessment

Added specific factors the Commission must consider when imposing penalties, including nature of violation, economic benefit to violator, corrective action opportunity, good faith efforts, and degree of culpability

Added a schedule for incremental maximum fine increases from 2030 to 2045

Changed effective date from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 3000 (likely placeholder date)

Added severability clause (Section 3) and savings provision (Section 4) to protect rights and proceedings before effective date

Added requirement for standardized water audit compliance under Act 169 as a violation condition