(a) Notwithstanding Sections 25608 and 25608.1, the commissioner may set any fee under those sections at an amount below the maximum fee set forth in those sections. The commissioner shall set the fee for the upcoming fiscal year on or about June 1 of each year, except that for the six-month period of January 1, 2002, through June 30, 2002, and for the 2002–03 fiscal year, the commissioner, on January 1, 2002, shall, in a reasonable and prudent manner, reduce any fee under Sections 25608 and 25608.1 by an amount below the maximum fee set forth in those sections. For the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2003, and thereafter, the commissioner shall establish the level of fees adequate to cover anticipated costs, including the maintenance of a prudent reserve, but not to exceed the maximum fees that may be levied under Sections 25608 and 25608.1. If, for the fiscal year commencing on July 1, 2003, or thereafter, the commissioner fails to set the fee for the upcoming fiscal year on or before June 1, then the fee for the next fiscal year shall be the fee that was in effect for the current fiscal year.

(b) In carrying out this section, the commissioner shall reduce or suspend fees to achieve no more than a 25-percent fund balance in the State Corporations Fund by June 30, 2007, and thereafter.

(c) The department shall report by February 1, 2002, to the Chair of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the chairs of the budget committees on the fees to be reduced and the projected revenue and fund balance impact on the State Corporations Fund through the 2006–07 fiscal year. Each year from 2002 through 2007, the department shall submit a status update report by November 1 on the fees reduced, the revenue and fund balance impact in the prior fiscal year, and the projected revenue and fund balance impact through the 2006–07 fiscal year.

(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 118, Sec. 1. Effective July 30, 2001.)