22101
. (a) An application for a license as a finance lender or
broker under this division shall be in the form and contain the
information that the commissioner may by rule or order require and
shall be filed upon payment of the fee specified in Section 22103.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, an applicant who does not
currently hold a license as a finance lender or broker under this
division shall furnish, with his or her application, a full set of
fingerprints and related information for purposes of the commissioner
conducting a criminal history record check. The commissioner shall
obtain and receive criminal history information from the Department
of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation pursuant to
Section 22101.5.
(c) This section shall not be construed to prevent a licensee from
engaging in the business of a finance lender through a subsidiary
corporation if the subsidiary corporation is licensed pursuant to
this division.
(d) For purposes of this section, "subsidiary corporation" means a
corporation that is wholly owned by a licensee.
(e) A new application shall not be required for a change in the
address of an existing location previously licensed under this
division. However, the licensee shall comply with the requirements of
Section 22153.
(f) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, the
commissioner may by rule require an application to be made through
the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry, and may
require fees, fingerprints, financial statements, supporting
documents, changes of address, and any other information, and
amendments or modifications thereto, to be submitted in the same
manner.
(g) 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.
(h) 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 and correspondence between a
party and the commissioner directly relating to the record.
(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.
(i) 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.