(a) Every event shall be registered with the department, unless otherwise prescribed by the secretary by regulation. The event manager of an event shall file a completed registration form with the department, as prescribed by the secretary, at least 60 days before the beginning of the event, which shall constitute the registration of the event.

(b) An event manager who fails to register an event required to be registered pursuant to this chapter is subject to a civil penalty to be levied by the secretary in an amount not less than one hundred dollars ($100) or more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500). In determining the amount of the penalty, the secretary shall consider any previous violations, and whether the event manager cooperated in good faith with the department.

(c) In addition to the civil penalty specified in subdivision (b), the secretary may, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, suspend the event manager from hosting or managing a public equine event for a period of not less than 90 days or more than one year for each violation. It is unlawful for an event manager suspended from hosting or managing a public equine event by the secretary to conduct a public equine event during the period of suspension. An event manager suspended by the secretary from hosting or managing a public equine event, who hosts or manages a public equine event during the period of suspension, is subject to the civil penalty prescribed by subdivision (b) for each public equine event held during the period of suspension.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 116, Sec. 13. (AB 1388) Effective January 1, 2014.)