CA AB21

Imposes civil penalties of up to $100,000 for each violation of electrical transmission and distribution line clearance requirements on mountainous, forest-covered, brush-covered, or grass-covered land, after the violator is offered a reasonable opportunity to cure.

Imposes an additional civil penalty of up to $1,000 per acre of land burned for violations that result in fire after the violator fails to cure the violation when offered the opportunity.

Establishes the Utility Accountability and Wildfire Prevention Fund in the State Treasury and directs 50% of collected penalties to the fund for forest management, fire planning, wildfire prevention and suppression, and fire-related enforcement activities.

Directs the remaining 50% of penalties to be distributed under existing law, with amounts going to counties or cities restricted to fire prevention-related activities only.

Requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to develop regulations defining what constitutes a reasonable opportunity to cure.