Section 13188.4 Of Article 4. Denial, Revocation, And Suspension From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 12. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 1.5. >> Article 4.
13188.4
. (a) If the State Fire Marshal or his or her designee
determines that the public interest and public welfare will be
adequately served by permitting a person who has a license issued
pursuant to Section 13165 or a certificate of registration issued
pursuant to Section 13178 to pay a monetary penalty to the State Fire
Marshal in lieu of a license or certificate of registration
suspension, the State Fire Marshal or his or her designee may stay
the execution of all or part of the suspension if all of the
following conditions are met:
(1) The violation that is the cause for the suspension did not
pose, or have the potential to pose, a significant threat or risk of
harm to the public.
(2) The holder of the license or certificate of registration pay a
monetary penalty.
(3) The holder of the license or certificate of registration does
not incur any other cause for disciplinary action within a period of
time specified by the State Fire Marshal or his or her designee.
In making the determination, the State Fire Marshal or his or her
designee shall consider the seriousness of the violation, the
violator's record of compliance with the law, the impact of the
determination on the violator, the violator's employees or customers,
and other relevant factors.
(b) The State Fire Marshal or his or her designee may exercise the
discretion granted under this section either with respect to a
suspension ordered by a decision after a contested hearing on an
accusation against the holder of the license or certificate of
registration or by stipulation with the holder of the license or
certificate of registration after the filing of an accusation, but
prior to the rendering of a decision based upon the accusation. In
either case, the terms and conditions of the disciplinary action
against the holder of the license or certificate of registration
shall be made part of a formal decision of the State Fire Marshal or
his or her designee.
(c) If a holder of the license or certificate of registration
fails to pay the monetary penalty in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the decision of the State Fire Marshal or his or her
designee, the State Fire Marshal or his or her designee may, without
a hearing, order the immediate execution of all or any part of the
stayed suspension in which event the holder of the license or
certificate of registration shall not be entitled to any repayment
nor credit, prorated or otherwise, for money paid to the State Fire
Marshal under the terms of the decision.
(d) The amount of the monetary penalty payable under this section
shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each day of
suspension stayed nor a total of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per
decision regardless of the number of days of suspension stayed under
the decision.
(e) Any monetary penalty received pursuant to this section shall
be deposited in the State Fire Marshal Licensing and Certification
Fund.
(f) On or before March 1 of each year, the State Fire Marshal
shall make available to the public data showing the percentage of
enforcement actions taken that resulted in license suspension or the
assessment of monetary penalties pursuant to this section.