Sacramento – The California State Board of Equalization (BOE) has been served with a lawsuit challenging the legality of the state’s fire prevention fee (AB 1x 29, Chapter 8, Statutes of 2011) enacted in 2011.

“Californians should note that the BOE is only billing and collecting the fees for deposit into the fund which CAL FIRE administers, as mandated by this legislation,” said BOE Chairman Jerome E. Horton. “The BOE does not have any stake in the outcome of this lawsuit.”

The fire prevention fee funds are administered by CAL FIRE, which is the state government entity that is responsible for defending this lawsuit in court. Further questions about the suit should be directed to CAL FIRE’s public affairs office at 1-916-651-FIRE.

Although the lawsuit has been filed and served, the law is still in effect as the court has not decided the fee’s legality. Californians who still owe their fire prevention fees should pay their bill or continue with their payment plans, and appeal to CAL FIRE if they believe they have been billed in error.