(a)  Each certificate issued pursuant to this article for ELAP certification shall be issued to the owner of the laboratory and shall expire 24 months from the date of issuance. An application for renewal shall be filed with the department prior to the expiration date of the certificate. Failure to make timely application for renewal shall result in expiration of the certificate.

(b)  A certificate shall be forfeited by operation of law prior to its expiration date when one of the following occurs:

(1)  The owner sells or otherwise transfers the ownership of the laboratory, except that the certificate shall remain in force 90 calendar days if the department receives written assurance and appropriate documentation within 30 calendar days after the change has occurred that one or more of the conditions in subdivision (c) are met. The department shall accept or reject the assurance in writing within 30 calendar days after it has been received.

(2)  There is a change in the location of the laboratory (except a mobile laboratory) or structural alteration that may affect adversely the quality of analysis in the fields of testing for which the laboratory has been certified or is seeking certification, without written notification to the department within 30 calendar days.

(3)  The certificate holder surrenders the certificate to the department.

(c)  Upon change of ownership of a laboratory, the department may extend a certificate to the expiration date of the original certificate upon written assurance by the new owner that the operation of the laboratory will continue so as not to adversely affect the conditions regulated by this article.

(d)  The department shall be notified in writing within 30 calendar days whenever there is a change of director or other person in charge of a laboratory certified under this article. The notification shall include documentation of the qualifications of the new director or other person in charge of the laboratory.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 215, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2003.)