ARTICLE 3. Regional Agencies [40970. - 40977.]

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 3.
in effect

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 40970. Section 40970.

It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article to authorize cities and counties to form regional agencies to implement this part in order to reduce the cost of reporting and tracking of disposal and diversion programs by individual cities and counties and to increase the diversion of solid waste from disposal facilities. It is further the intent of the Legislature that this part be binding upon, and enforceable against, the individual cities and counties which are member agencies of the regional agency. It is not the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article to diminish the responsibility of individual cities and counties to implement source reduction, recycling, and composting programs as required by this part.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 40971. Section 40971.

A city or county may form a regional agency with another city or county for the purpose of complying with this part. Formation of the regional agency is voluntary and, except as provided under Section 40975, shall be subject to the terms and conditions set out in the agreement pursuant to which the regional agency is formed.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 40972. Section 40972.

This part is binding upon, and enforceable against, the individual cities and counties which are member agencies of the regional agency. However, an agreement adopted pursuant to this article may apportion responsibilities for the implementation of this part among the cities and counties which are member agencies of the regional agency. Nothing in this section is intended to prohibit a city or county which is a member agency of a regional agency from preparing and submitting to the board for review and approval a source reduction and recycling element or household hazardous waste element.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 40973. Section 40973.

(a) The regional agency, and not the cities or counties that are member agencies of the regional agency, may be responsible for compliance with Article 1 (commencing with Section 41780) of Chapter 6 if specified in the agreement pursuant to which the regional agency is formed. (b) Notwithstanding Section 41782, except as provided in subdivision (c), if a regional agency has been specified in the regional agency formation agreement as the responsible party for compliance with Article 1 (commencing with Section 41780) of Chapter 6 of Part 1, neither the regional agency nor any member jurisdiction of the regional agency shall be eligible for a reduction of the diversion requirements of Section 41780. (c) The regional agency may be eligible for a reduction of diversion and planning requirements if all member jurisdictions of a regional agency are rural cities or rural counties, as defined, respectively, in Sections 40183 and 40184. (d) The regional agency may be eligible for a reduction of planning requirements if all member jurisdictions of a regional agency are cities located in both a rural area and a rural county, as defined in Section 40184, and an unincorporated portion of a county. (e) (1) If, pursuant to subdivision (a), a regional agency is specified in the regional agency formation agreement as the responsible party for compliance with Article 1 (commencing with Section 41780) of Chapter 6, the regional agency shall not be comprised of more than two counties and all of the cities within those two counties, except as otherwise authorized by the board. (2) The board may authorize the formation of a regional agency that exceeds two counties and all of the cities within those two counties, for purposes of compliance with Article 1 (commencing with Section 41780) of Chapter 6, if the board finds that the formation of the regional agency will not adversely affect compliance with this part.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 40974. Section 40974.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 40972, each city or county that is a member agency of a regional agency is liable for any civil penalties that may be imposed by the board pursuant to Section 41813 or 41850. However, an agreement that establishes a regional agency may apportion any civil penalties between or among the cities or counties that are member agencies of the regional agency. The total amount of civil penalties that may be imposed against the regional agency is equivalent to that amount that is the sum of the penalties that may be imposed against each city or county that is a member agency of the regional agency. (b) (1) An agreement may provide that a city or county is subject to the portion of a penalty imposed upon a regional agency pursuant to Section 41850 that is in proportion to the city’s or county’s responsibility for failure to implement a source reduction and recycling element or household hazardous waste element, as determined by the regional agency. (2) If an agreement provides for apportioning a penalty pursuant to paragraph (1), the regional agency shall provide the city or county with a written notice regarding the city’s or county’s responsibility, including the basis for determining the city’s or county’s proportional responsibility, and an opportunity for a hearing before the regional agency’s governing body, before assessing the city or county a proportion of the penalty imposed by the board. (3) This subdivision does not affect the authority of the board to impose a penalty pursuant to other provisions of this division.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 40975. Section 40975.

(a) Any agreement forming a regional agency shall be submitted to the board for review and approval at the time the regional agency integrated waste management plan is submitted to the board for review and approval. (b) Any agreement forming a regional agency shall, at minimum, contain all of the following provisions: (1) A listing of the cities and counties which are member agencies of the regional agency, and a description of the regional agency, including the name and address of the regional agency. (2) Consistent with Section 40974, a description of the method by which any civil penalties imposed by the board pursuant to Sections 41813 and 41850 will be allocated among the cities or counties which are member agencies of the regional agency. (3) A contingency plan which shows how each city or county which is a member agency of the regional agency will comply with the requirements of this part, including, but not limited to, Article 1 (commencing with Section 41780) of Chapter 6, in the event that the regional agency is abolished. (4) A description of the duties and responsibilities of each city or county which is a member agency of the regional agency which demonstrates that the city or county will comply with Article 1 (commencing with Section 41780) of Chapter 6. (5) A description of source reduction, recycling, and composting programs to be implemented by the regional agency. Those programs shall be at least as comprehensive and effective in meeting the requirements of Article 1 (commencing with Section 41780) of Chapter 6 as those which each city or county which is a member agency of the regional agency has proposed in its source reduction and recycling element. (6) Any other additional element as determined to be needed by the cities or counties which are member agencies of the regional agency.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 40976. Section 40976.

A city, county, or regional agency may enter into a memorandum of understanding with another city, county, regional agency, agency formed under a joint exercise of powers agreement, or district established to manage solid waste for the purpose of preparing and implementing source reduction and recycling elements, household hazardous waste elements, or a countywide or regional agency integrated waste management plan.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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