(a) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the division shall, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, annually prepare and transmit to the Legislature a report of all of the following information statewide and by district:

1. (1) The number of shall-witness and may-witness operations performed. The number of each type of may-witness operation as identified by law or regulation included in the total shall be provided.
2. (2) The number of shall-witness and may-witness operations performed that were witnessed by the division in person. The number of each type of may-witness operation as identified by law or regulation included in the total shall be provided.
3. (3) The number of shall witness and may-witness operations performed where division personnel did not witness the operations in person and witnessed the operations remotely. The number of each type of may-witness operation as identified by law or regulation included in the total shall be provided.
4. (4) The number of shall-witness and may-witness operations performed on critical wells. The number of each type of may-witness operation as identified by law or regulation included in the total shall be provided.
5. (5) The number of shall-witness and may-witness operations performed on critical wells that were witnessed by the division in person. The number of each type of may-witness operation as identified by law or regulation included in the total shall be provided.
6. (6) The number of shall-witness and may-witness operations performed on critical wells where division personnel did not witness the operations in person and witnessed the operations remotely. The number of each type of may-witness operation as identified by law or regulation included in the total shall be provided.
7. (7) A complete list of all shall-witness operations where division personnel did not witness the operations in person and witnessed the operations remotely. Information about each operation, including, but not limited to, the type of operation, the date, location, API number, and district, shall be included. The division shall maintain a written justification for each remote witnessing of shall-witness operations and provide it upon request.

(b)

1. (1) The division is authorized to witness may-witness operations remotely. The division shall prioritize witnessing of may-witness operations in person to the maximum extent possible.
2. (2) This subdivision shall become inoperative on January 1, 2028.

(e) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

1. (1) “Critical well” has the same meaning as in Section 1720 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, or a successor regulation.
2. (2) “May-witness” means an operation performed that by law the division is authorized to witness.
3. (3) “Shall-witness” means an operation performed that by law the division is required to witness.
4. (4) “Witnessed by the division in person” means the operation is witnessed by division personnel who were physically present at the location when the operation was performed.
5. (5) “Witnessed the operations remotely” or “witness the operations remotely” or “witnessing the operations remotely” means the viewing or reviewing of video, livestream, photographic, or other materials or evidence of the conduct of the operation during or after the operation was conducted without the division personnel being physically present at the location when the operation was performed.