Article 2. Licensing And Exemptions of California Financial Code >> Division 10. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 2.

(a) A person shall not offer, originate, or make a deferred deposit transaction, arrange a deferred deposit transaction for a deferred deposit originator, act as an agent for a deferred deposit originator, or assist a deferred deposit originator in the origination of a deferred deposit transaction without first obtaining a license from the commissioner and complying with the provisions of this division. The requirements of this subdivision shall not apply to persons or entities that are excluded from the definition of "licensee" as set forth in Section 23001. This division shall not be construed to require the commissioner to create separate classes of licenses.
  (b) An application for a license under this division shall be in the form and contain the information that the commissioner may by rule require and shall be filed upon payment of the fee specified in Section 23006.
  (c) A licensee with one or more licensed locations seeking an additional location license may file a short form license application as may be established by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (b) of this section.
  (d) Notwithstanding any other law, the commissioner may by rule or order prescribe circumstances under which to accept electronic records or electronic signatures. This section does not require the commissioner to accept electronic records or electronic signatures.
  (e) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
  (1) "Electronic record" means an initial license application, or material modification of that license application, and any other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means. "Electronic records" also includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
  (A) An application, amendment, supplement, and exhibit, filed for any license, consent, or other authority.
  (B) A financial statement, report, or advertising.
  (C) An order, license, consent, or other authority.
  (D) A notice of public hearing, accusation, and statement of issues in connection with any application, license, consent, or other authority.
  (E) A proposed decision of a hearing officer and a decision of the commissioner.
  (F) The transcripts of a hearing.
  (G) A release, newsletter, interpretive opinion, determination, or specific ruling.
  (H) Correspondence between a party and the commissioner directly relating to any document listed in subparagraphs (A) to (G), inclusive.
  (2) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with an electronic record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the electronic record.
  (f) The Legislature finds and declares that the Department of Business Oversight has continuously implemented methods to accept records filed electronically, and is encouraged to continue to expand its use of electronic filings to the extent feasible, as budget, resources, and equipment are made available to accomplish that goal.

At the time of filing the application, the applicant shall pay to the commissioner the sum of one hundred dollars ($100) as a fee for investigating the application, the sum of two hundred dollars ($200) as an application fee, and the cost of fingerprint processing. The investigation fee and application fee are not refundable if an application is denied or withdrawn.

The applicant shall file with the application financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and acceptable to the commissioner that indicate a net worth of at least twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). A licensee, regardless of the number of licensed locations, shall maintain a net worth of at least twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) at all times.

Upon the filing of an application pursuant to Section 23005 and the payment of fees pursuant to Section 23006, the commissioner shall investigate the applicant, and its general partners and persons owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interests if the applicant is a partnership. If the applicant is a corporation, trust, or association, including an unincorporated organization, the commissioner shall investigate its officers, directors, and persons owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding equity securities. If the commissioner determines that the applicant has satisfied this division and does not find facts constituting reasons for denial under Section 23011, the commissioner shall issue and deliver a license to the applicant.

The license shall state the name of the licensee, and if the licensee is a partnership, the names of its general partners, and if a corporation or an association, the date and place of its incorporation or organization, and the address of the licensee's principal business location. On the approval and licensing of a location pursuant to Section 23008, the commissioner shall issue an original license endorsed to show the address of the authorized location.

The commissioner may by regulation require licensees to file, at the times that the commissioner may specify, the information that the commissioner may reasonably require regarding any changes in the information provided in any application filed pursuant to this division.

(a) Upon reasonable notice and the opportunity to be heard, the commissioner may deny the application for any of the following reasons:
  (1) Any false statement of material fact has been made in the application.
  (2) Any officer, director, general partner, or person owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interests or equity securities of the applicant has, within the last 10 years (A) been convicted of or pleaded nolo contendere to a crime, or (B) committed any act involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit, if the crime or act is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a person engaged in business in accordance with this division.
  (3) The applicant or any officer, director, or general partner, or person owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interests or equity securities of the applicant has violated any provision of this division or the rules thereunder or any similar regulatory scheme of the State of California or a foreign jurisdiction.
  (b) The application shall be considered withdrawn within the meaning of this section if the applicant fails to respond to a written notification of a deficiency in the application within 90 days of the date of the notification.
  (c) The commissioner shall, within 60 days from the filing of a full and complete application for a license and the payment of required fees, either issue a license or file a statement of issues prepared in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(a) The commissioner may, after appropriate notice and opportunity for hearing, by order, censure or suspend for a period not exceeding 12 months, or bar from any position of employment, management, or control any deferred deposit originator, or any other person, if the commissioner finds either of the following:
  (1) That the censure, suspension, or bar is in the public interest and that the person has committed or caused a violation of this division or rule or order of the commissioner, which violation was either known or should have been known by the person committing or causing it or has caused material damage to the deferred deposit originator, or to the public.
  (2) That the person has been convicted of or pleaded nolo contendere to any crime, or has been held liable in any civil action by final judgment, or any administrative judgment by any public agency, if that crime or civil or administrative judgment involved any offense involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit, or any other offense reasonably related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a person engaged in the business in accordance with the provisions of this division.
  (b) Within 15 days from the date of a notice of intention to issue an order pursuant to subdivision (a), the person may request a hearing under the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 11400) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). Upon receipt of a request, the matter shall be set for hearing to commence within 30 days after such receipt unless the person subject to this division consents to a later date. If no hearing is requested within 15 days after the mailing or service of such notice and none is ordered by the commissioner, the failure to request a hearing shall constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing.
  (c) Upon receipt of a notice of intention to issue an order pursuant to this section, the person who is the subject of the proposed order is immediately prohibited from engaging in any activities subject to licensure under the law.
  (d) Persons suspended or barred under this section are prohibited from participating in any business activity of a deferred deposit originator and from engaging in any business activity on the premises where a deferred deposit originator is conducting business.

The proceedings for denial of a license shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the commissioner has all the powers granted therein.

(a) A licensee shall maintain a surety bond in accordance with this subdivision in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). The bond shall be payable to the commissioner and issued by an insurer authorized to do business in this state. A copy of the bond, including any and all riders and endorsements executed subsequent to the effective date of the bond, shall be filed with the commissioner for review and approval within 10 days of execution. For licensees with multiple licensed locations, only one surety bond in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) is required. The bond shall be used for the recovery of expenses, fines, and fees levied by the commissioner in accordance with this division or for losses or damages incurred by consumers as the result of a licensee's noncompliance with the requirements of this division.
  (b) When an action is commenced on a licensee's bond, the commissioner may require the filing of a new bond. Immediately upon recovery of any action on the bond, the licensee shall file a new bond. Failure to file a new bond within 10 days of the recovery on a bond, or within 10 days after notification by the commissioner that a new bond is required, constitutes sufficient grounds for the suspension or revocation of the license.

In any proceeding under this division, the burden of proving an exemption or exception is upon the person claiming it.