Section 12106 Of Chapter 2. Application Of Division From California Financial Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 2.
12106
. (a) The commissioner may do the following, at his or her
discretion:
(1) Make public or private investigations within or outside of
this state necessary to determine whether any person has violated, or
is about to violate, any provision of this division or any rule or
order promulgated pursuant to this division, or to aid in the
enforcement of the law.
(2) Make public any information concerning any violation of this
division or any rule or order promulgated pursuant to this division.
(b) For the purpose of any investigation or proceeding under this
section, the commissioner or any officer designated by the
commissioner may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena
witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the
production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda,
agreements, or other documents or records the commissioner deems
relevant or material to the inquiry.
(c) In case of refusal to obey a subpoena issued to a person, the
superior court may upon application by the commissioner issue to the
person an order requiring the person to appear before the
commissioner, or an officer designated by the commissioner, and
produce documentary evidence, if so ordered, or to give evidence
touching the matter under investigation or in question. Failure to
obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a
contempt.
(d) No person is excused from attending or testifying, or from
producing any document or record, before the commissioner or in
obedience of a subpoena of the commissioner, or any officer
designated by the commissioner, or in any proceeding instituted by
the commissioner, on the ground that the testimony or evidence
required of the person may incriminate the person or subject the
person to a penalty or forfeiture. However, after validly claiming
the privilege against self-incrimination, no individual may be
prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for, or on
account of, any transaction, matter, or thing for which the person is
compelled to testify or produce pursuant to this section, except
that the individual testifying is not exempt from prosecution and
punishment for perjury or contempt committed in testifying.
(e) The cost of any review, examination, audit, or investigation
made by the commissioner under this section shall be paid to the
commissioner by the person subject to the review, examination, audit,
or investigation, and the commissioner may maintain an action for
the recovery of these costs in any court of competent jurisdiction.
In determining the cost, the commissioner may use the actual amount
of the salary or other compensation paid to the persons making the
review, examination, audit, or investigation plus the actual amount
of expenses, including overhead reasonably incurred in the
performance of the work.