(a) The department shall expend moneys available in the reserve account, established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 78240, only for the purpose of taking immediate corrective action necessary to remedy or prevent an emergency resulting from a fire or an explosion of, or human exposure to, hazardous substances caused by the release or threatened release of a hazardous substance.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department may enter into written contracts for corrective action taken or to be taken pursuant to subdivision (a).
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department may enter into oral contracts, not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in obligation, when, in the judgment of the department, immediate corrective action is necessary to remedy or prevent an emergency specified in subdivision (a).
(3) The contracts made pursuant to this subdivision, whether written or oral, may include provisions for the rental of tools or equipment, either with or without operators furnished, and for the furnishing of labor and materials necessary to accomplish the work.
(4) If the department finds that the corrective action includes the relocation of individuals, the department may contract with those individuals for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in moving for an amount of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 257, Sec. 2. (AB 2293) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2024, pursuant to Sec. 4 of Stats. 2022, Ch. 257.)