California · Government Code

GOV §26614.7: (a) Notwithstanding Article 8 (commencing with Section 53150) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5, when a person 16 years of age or older is a resident of a county or city and county that

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

Counties and cities may bill residents age 16+ for search and rescue costs if the need resulted from an intentional violation of law that led to criminal conviction, subject to payment ability and caps on billing amounts.

Read the full statutory text

(a) Notwithstanding Article 8 (commencing with Section 53150) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5, when a person 16 years of age or older is a resident of a county or city and county that conducts a search or rescue of that person, that person shall pay the county or city and county conducting the search or rescue for the actual cost incurred for the search or rescue, including, but not limited to, the cost of operating vehicles or aircraft, the salaries of employees, and the cost of providing emergency medical services, within 30 days after being billed for those charges if the need for the search or rescue necessitated the use of extraordinary methods and was caused by an intentional act in knowing violation of any federal or state law or local ordinance that resulted in a criminal conviction of that person for that act. (b) (1) The county or city and county shall not collect charges from those persons whom the county or city and county determines are unable to pay the charges. (2) A county or city and county shall not bill a resident under this section more than twelve thousand dollars ($12,000), adjusted annually for inflation as measured by the percentage change in the California Consumer Price Index from January 1 of the prior year to January 1 of the current year, as determined by the Department of Industrial Relations, for a search or rescue unless the search or rescue was caused by an act described in subdivision (a) that resulted in a felony conviction of that resident under any federal or state law. (c) The county or city and county may only seek reimbursement as authorized by this section if the board of supervisors of that county or city and county passes an ordinance consistent with this section.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

Start your matter free Ask Law Link about this code

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.