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HomeFood and Agricultural CodeDiv. 9Pt. 3Ch. 5Art. 13§ 19445 Agricultural Violation Civil Penalties

§ 19445 Agricultural Violation Civil Penalties

Food and Agricultural Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 19445 Agricultural Violation Civil Penalties

Key Takeaways

  • •If someone breaks the rules in Article 6 or 6.5 (about food and farming), the Attorney General can sue them instead of just fining them or taking them to criminal court.
  • •The fine for breaking these rules can be up to $10,000 for each mistake.
  • •Any money collected from these fines goes to the Department of Food and Agriculture to help with their work.

Example

A farmer doesn't follow the rules for safely storing animal feed, which is part of Article 6.

The Attorney General could sue the farmer and make them pay up to $10,000 for breaking the rules. The money would then go to the Department of Food and Agriculture to help them do their job better.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 19445 Agricultural Violation Civil Penalties

(a) In lieu of levying a civil penalty pursuant to Section 19447, and in lieu of seeking prosecution, upon complaint of the secretary, the Attorney General may bring an action for civil penalties in any court of competent jurisdiction in this state against any person who violates Article 6 (commencing with Section 19300), Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 19310), or any regulation adopted pursuant to those articles. The civil penalty imposed shall not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation. (b) Any funds recovered by the secretary pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund, and upon appropriation by the Legislature, shall be used for the purposes described in Section 221. (Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 133, Sec. 29. (AB 120) Effective July 26, 2011.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

civil penaltiesArticle 6Article 6.5Department of Food and Agriculture Fund

Related Statutes

  • § 19446 Civil Penalty Enforcement Options
  • § 19447 Civil Penalty For Violations
  • § 14503 Department Of Food And Agriculture Fund
  • § 19228 Agriculture Fund Fee Deposits
  • § 19440 Violation Penalties And Fines

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Food and Agricultural Code. Section 19445.
View Official Source