California Code of Regulations
Title 14 - Natural Resources
Division 7 - Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
Chapter 11 - Product Stewardship
Article 2 - Architectural Paint Recovery Program
Section 18954 - Annual Report Compliance Criteria

(1) Contact information. Identify the manufacturer or stewardship organization responsible for the annual report submittal. Stewardship organizations shall include an updated list of participating manufacturers and any updates to their respective contact information per § 18952(a)(2).

(2) Executive Summary. The purpose of the Executive Summary is to provide a broad understanding of the manufacturer or stewardship organization's program as a whole and to put into context the data and information that will follow. Provide a brief description of the manufacturer or stewardship organization's architectural paint recovery efforts during the reporting period pursuant to PRC § 48705(a). This may include anticipated steps, if needed, to improve performance and a description of challenges encountered during the reporting period and how they will be addressed. This may also include a description of paint container management and market development activities if the manufacturer or stewardship organization has chosen to engage in those activities.

(3) Program Outline. Describe the paint stewardship program, including information on the following topics:

(4) Description of goals and activities based on the stewardship plan. State goals from the approved stewardship plan, the baseline from which goals were measured, and report on achievement during the reporting period. Describe any adjustments to goals stated in the approved stewardship plan that may be made for the upcoming reporting period and accompanying rationale for those changes. The annual report must include quantitative information and discussion on the following categories pursuant to PRC § 48705(a) and PRC § 48703(d):

(5) Financing Mechanism. The annual report shall include the total cost of implementing the architectural paint stewardship program and an evaluation of how the program's funding mechanism operated, including whether or not the funding was sufficient to recover, but not exceed, the administrative, operational, and capital costs of the manufacturer or stewardship organization's program. Include a statement that any surplus funds are put back into the program to reduce the costs of the program, including the assessment amount. Any proposed change in the amount of the architectural paint stewardship assessment must be submitted to the department for re-approval (see § 18952. Submittals). If a manufacturer or stewardship organization conducts activities that are separate from the implementation and management of the California paint stewardship program, then the annual report shall include documentation on how the collection and expenditure of assessment funds shall be kept separate from other activities of the manufacturer or stewardship organization and the methodology for distribution of shared costs. Consistent with PRC § 48705(a)(5), the annual report shall include the following:

(6) Education and Outreach. Describe educational and outreach activities in context of those identified in the stewardship plan. Provide a description of educational materials that were provided to retailers, consumers, and contractors during the reporting period and provide electronic examples of these materials. Identify any method(s) used to determine the effectiveness of educational and outreach efforts (e.g., surveys, hits on specific web pages, number of participants at events, etc.), if applicable. These education and outreach materials may include, but are not limited to, any of the following per PRC § 48703(e):

(7) Audits. The annual report shall include an independent financial audit of the California Architectural Paint Recovery Program funded from the paint stewardship assessment. The audit shall be conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, and standards set forth in Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. The financial audit submitted to the department shall be prepared by an Independent Certified Public Accountant (CPA). The CPA shall not perform non-audit services for the manufacturer or stewardship organization that would impair independence as defined in the Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States (e.g., accounting services, development of internal controls, management decisions). The independent financial audit shall include: