SECTIONS 25960-25968

25960.  No new residential-type gas appliance that is equipped witha pilot light shall be sold in the state after an alternate means hasbeen certified by the commission. This prohibition shall becomeoperative 24 months after an intermittent ignition device has beendemonstrated and certified by the commission as an alternate means.The commission may determine, after demonstration, that there is nofeasible alternative means to the use of pilot light or that the useof a pilot light is necessary for public health and safety.25960.5.  Notwithstanding the prohibition contained in Section25960, any swimming pool heater with a pilot light which wasmanufactured prior to February 24, 1984, and in stock or on order asof that date, may be sold in this state prior to December 1, 1984. Onor after December 1, 1984, no swimming pool heater may be sold oroffered for sale, unless it is equipped with an intermittent ignitiondevice or is designed to burn only liquefied petroleum gases.25961.  The commission shall, on or before January 1, 1976, developin cooperation with affected industry and consumer representatives,who will be designated as such representatives by the commission, thespecifications for certification of intermittent ignition deviceswhich shall not significantly affect the price of gas appliances incompetition with similar electrical appliances. The specificationshall be developed so as to result in the conservation of primaryenergy resources, shall include provisions necessary for publichealth and safety, and shall give due consideration to the initialcosts, including installation and maintenance costs imposed upon theconsumer.25962.  Within 90 days after an intermittent ignition device hasbeen certified by the commission, the commission shall notify all gasappliance manufacturers doing business in the state, as to theprohibition of affected pilot lights and shall inform themanufacturers of the devices available to comply with this article.25963.  The commission shall create a seal of certification andshall distribute the seal to every manufacturer that complies withthis article. The seal shall be affixed to every new appliance soldin the state.25964.  After 24 months after an intermittent ignition device hasbeen certified by the commission, no person shall sell or offer forsale in this state any new gas appliances, as defined in Section25950, without obtaining the proper seal of certification from thecommission, unless the commission otherwise permits such action.Beginning 24 months after an intermittent ignition device has beencertified by the commission, no city or county, city and county, orstate agency shall issue a permit for any building to be equippedwith any new gas appliance, as defined in Section 25950, unless suchbuilding permit shows that the gas appliance complies with thischapter. However, any new gas appliance which does not comply withthis chapter may be installed if the appliance was purchased pursuantto a contract executed prior to June 17, 1978, and if the buildingpermit was approved prior to July 8, 1978.25965.  After 24 months after an intermittent ignition device hasbeen certified by the commission, the commission shall make periodicinspections of manufacturers and distributors of gas appliances andmay inspect retail outlets, including gas appliances that have beenor are to be installed by contractors or builders at building sitesin order to determine their compliance with this article.25966.  Any person who violates or proposes to violate this chaptermay be enjoined by any court of competent jurisdiction. The court maymake such orders or judgments, including the appointment of areceiver, as may be necessary to prevent the use or employment by anyperson of any practices which violate this chapter, or which may benecessary to restore to any person in interest any money or property,real or personal, which may have been acquired by means of anypractice which violates any provision of this chapter. Actions for injunction under this section may be prosecuted by theAttorney General or any district attorney, county counsel, cityattorney, or city prosecutor in this state in the name of the peopleof the State of California upon their own complaint or upon thecomplaint of any board, officer, person, corporation or associationor by any person acting for the interests of itself, its members orthe general public.25967.  (a) Any person who violates any provision of this chaptershall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed two thousand fivehundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation, which shall be assessedand recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the people ofthe State of California by the Attorney General or by any districtattorney, county counsel, or city attorney in any court of competentjurisdiction. (b) If the action is brought by the Attorney General, one-half ofthe penalty collected shall be paid to the treasurer of the county inwhich the judgment was entered, and one-half to the State Treasurer.If brought by a district attorney or county counsel, the entireamount of penalty collected shall be paid to the treasurer of thecounty in which the judgment was entered. If brought by a cityattorney or city prosecutor, one-half of the penalty shall be paid tothe treasurer of the county and one-half to the city. (c) If the action is brought at the request of the commission, thecourt shall determine the reasonable expenses incurred by thecommission in the investigation and prosecution of the action. Before any penalty collected is paid out pursuant to subdivision(b), the amount of such reasonable expenses incurred by thecommission shall be paid to the State Treasurer.25968.  Any inspector appointed or authorized by the commissionshall have access to the premises, equipment, materials, partlyfinished and finished articles, and records of any person subject tothe provisions of this chapter.