ARTICLE 1.5. Rural Assistance [41787. - 41787.5.]

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 1.5.

in effect

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 41787. Section 41787.

(a) (1) The board may reduce the diversion requirements of Section 41780 for a rural city if the rural city demonstrates, and the board concurs, based on substantial evidence in the record, that achievement of the diversion requirements is not feasible due to both of the following conditions: (A) The small geographic size or low population density of the rural city. (B) The small quantity of solid waste generated within the rural city. (2) The board may reduce the diversion requirements of Section 41780 for the unincorporated area of a rural county if the rural county demonstrates, and the board concurs, based on substantial evidence in the record, that achievement of the diversion requirements is not feasible due to both of the following conditions: (A) The large geographic size or low population density of the rural county. (B) The small quantity of solid waste generated within the rural county. (3) The board may grant a reduction in diversion requirements pursuant to this subdivision only if the rural city or the rural county demonstrates to the board, and the board concurs, based on substantial evidence in the record, that it has, at a minimum, implemented all of the following programs: (A) A source reduction and recycling program designed to handle the predominant classes and types of solid waste generated within the rural city or rural county. (B) A public sector diversion and procurement program. (C) A public information and education program. (b) If, as part of the review performed pursuant to Section 41825, the board finds that a rural city or a rural county, which previously qualified for a reduction in diversion requirements pursuant to subdivision (a), is no longer eligible for that reduction, the board shall issue an order requiring the rural city or rural county to comply with the diversion requirements of Section 41780.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 41787.1. Section 41787.1.

(a) Rural cities and rural counties may join to form rural regional agencies pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 40970) of Chapter 1. (b) A rural regional agency, and not the rural cities or rural counties which are member jurisdictions of the rural 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 rural regional agency is formed. (c) (1) The board may reduce the diversion requirements of Section 41780 for a rural regional agency, if the rural regional agency demonstrates, and the board concurs, based on substantial evidence in the record, that achievement of the diversion requirements is not feasible because adverse market or economic conditions beyond the control of the rural regional agency prevent it from meeting the requirements of Section 41780. (2) Before a rural regional agency may be granted a reduction in diversion requirements pursuant to paragraph (1), it shall demonstrate that, at a minimum, it has established all of the following regionwide programs: (A) A source reduction and recycling program or programs designed to handle the predominant classes and types of solid waste generated within the rural regional agency. (B) A regional diversion and procurement program or programs. (C) A regional public information and education program or programs. (d) (1) Notwithstanding Section 40974, any civil penalty imposed on a rural regional agency by the board pursuant to Section 41813 or 41850 shall be imposed only on a member rural city or county that is in violation of this division as a city or county irrespective of its membership in the rural regional agency. If a rural regional agency elects to apportion penalties pursuant to this subdivision, the member jurisdiction to that rural regional agency shall, as a condition of the agreement establishing the rural regional agency, be required to account on an individual jurisdictional basis for their compliance with the diversion requirements of Section 41780, as prescribed by Section 41780.2. (2) In determining whether to impose a penalty on a member of a rural regional agency pursuant to this subdivision, the board may consider all of the following: (A) The relevant circumstances that resulted in the agency’s failure to achieve the diversion requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 41780, and whether the member contributed to the circumstances that resulted in the failure to achieve the diversion requirements. (B) Whether the agency’s joint powers agreement specifies that all liability for fines and penalties rests with the member, with no liability assigned to the agency. (C) Whether the imposition of penalties on members and not on the agency would provide for flexibility that would allow the agency to resolve the problem that is preventing the members from meeting the diversion requirements. (D) Limiting penalties to a maximum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per day if a member’s failure does not cause other members or the agency to fail to implement programs in the agency’s source reduction and recycling element.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 41787.2. Section 41787.2.

(a) A rural city or a rural county, which has received, or is eligible for, a reduction in diversion requirements pursuant to Section 41787, may become a member of a rural regional agency for the purpose of complying with the diversion requirements of Section 41780, in which case the region’s maximum disposal tonnage allowable shall be calculated as follows: (1) Determining the regional maximum disposal tonnage allowable, excluding members with reduced diversion requirements. (2) Determining the maximum disposal tonnage allowable for those members authorized to meet reduced diversion requirements. (3) Adding the calculated maximum disposal tonnages determined pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) to determine the regional maximum disposal tonnage allowable. (b) (1) A rural regional agency may not assume responsibility for compliance with diversion requirements upon formation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 41787.1, and for compliance with Article 1 (commencing with Section 41780), if the rural regional agency is comprised of more than two rural counties, unless authorized by the board pursuant to paragraph (2). (2) The board may authorize the assumption of responsibility for compliance with diversion requirements by a rural regional agency upon formation, which is comprised of more than two rural counties, if the board finds that the rural regional agency’s assumption of responsibility will not adversely affect compliance with this part.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 41787.3. Section 41787.3.

The board, in consultation with rural cities and rural counties, shall develop model programs and materials to assist rural cities and rural counties in complying with the requirements of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 41000) and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 41300). Those model programs and materials shall be designed to assist rural cities and rural counties in achieving the purposes of this division in a manner which minimizes, to the maximum extent feasible, the costs imposed on rural cities and rural counties to comply with this division.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 41787.4. Section 41787.4.

Notwithstanding Section 41820, the board may grant a two-year time extension from the diversion requirements of Section 41780 to a rural city, rural county, or rural regional agency if all of the following conditions are met: (a) The board adopts written findings, based on substantial evidence in the record, that adverse market or economic conditions beyond the control of the rural city, rural county, or rural regional agency prevent the rural city, rural county, or rural regional agency from meeting the diversion requirements. (b) The rural city, rural county, or rural regional agency submits a plan of correction that demonstrates how it will meet the diversion requirements before the time extension expires, which includes the source reduction, recycling, and composting programs it will implement and states how those programs will be funded. (c) The rural city, rural county, or rural regional agency demonstrates that it is achieving the maximum feasible amount of source reduction, recycling, or composting of solid waste within its jurisdiction.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 41787.5. Section 41787.5.

Unless in conflict with the express provisions of this article, all other provisions of this division, as appropriate, shall apply to rural cities, rural counties, and rural regional agencies to the same extent that those provisions apply to nonrural cities, counties, and regional agencies.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026