In any civil or criminal action or proceeding for violation of any of the following, proof that the act that is complained of was done in compliance with the provisions of this chapter is a complete defense to the action or proceeding:

17000) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code.

If any section, sentence, clause, or part of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is for any reason held to be invalid, that invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions or applications of this chapter that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable. The Legislature hereby declares that it would have passed this chapter and each section, sentence, clause, and part of this chapter despite the fact that one or more

sections, sentences, clauses, or parts of this chapter is declared invalid.

The assessment for the passenger rental car industry rate shall be set by the commission, shall be no more than 3.5 percent, and shall be set at a level that will generate no more than 60 percent of all expenditures by the commission as set forth in Section 13995.45.

The approved marketing plan of the commission shall be no less than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) per fiscal year.