Article 1. Revocation And Suspension Of License of California Financial Code >> Division 9. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 1.

(a) Finance lender and broker licenses issued under this division shall remain in effect until they are surrendered, revoked, or suspended.
  (b) Mortgage loan originator licenses issued under this division shall be renewed annually upon the payment of an annual assessment, and if renewed by the licensee, shall remain in effect until they are surrendered, revoked, or suspended.
  (c) Surrender of a license becomes effective 30 days after receipt of an application to surrender the license or within a shorter period of time that the commissioner may determine, unless a revocation or suspension proceeding is pending when the application is filed or a proceeding to revoke or suspend or to impose conditions upon the surrender is instituted within 30 days after the application is filed. If a proceeding is pending or instituted, surrender of a license becomes effective at the time and upon the conditions that the commissioner determines.

For the purpose of discovering violations of this division or securing information required by him or her in the administration and enforcement of this division, the commissioner may at any time investigate the loans and business, and examine the books, accounts, records, and files used in the business, of every person engaged in the business of a finance lender or broker, whether the person acts or claims to act as principal or agent, or under or without the authority of this division. For the purpose of examination, the commissioner and his or her representatives shall have free access to the offices and places of business, books, accounts, papers, records, files, safes, and vaults of all these persons.

In making any examination or investigation, the commissioner may, for a reasonable time not to exceed 30 days, take possession of the books, records, accounts, and other papers pertaining to the business. The commissioner may place a keeper in exclusive charge and custody of the books, records, accounts, and other papers in the office or place where they are usually kept. During possession, no person shall remove or attempt to remove any of the books, accounts, papers, records, files, safes, and vaults, or any part thereof, except in compliance with a court order or written consent of the commissioner.

The officers, employees, partners, directors, and stockholders may inspect and examine the books, accounts, papers, records, files, safes, and vaults while they are in the custody of the commissioner. Employees may make entries in these documents reflecting current operations or transactions.

The power of investigation and examination by the commissioner is not terminated by the surrender, suspension, or revocation of any license issued by him or her.

Whenever the commissioner deems it necessary for the general welfare of the public, he or she has continuous authority to exercise the powers set forth in this division whether or not an application for a license has been filed with the commissioner, any license has been issued, or if issued, has been surrendered, suspended, or revoked.

(a) For any licensee, a disciplinary action taken by the State of California, another state, an agency of the federal government, or another country for an action substantially related to the activity regulated under this division may be grounds for disciplinary action by the commissioner. A certified copy of the record of the disciplinary action taken against the licensee by the State of California, other state, agency of the federal government, or other country shall be conclusive evidence of the events related therein.
  (b) Nothing in this section shall preclude the commissioner from applying a specific statutory provision in this division providing for discipline against a licensee as a result of disciplinary action taken against a licensee by the State of California, another state, an agency of the federal government, or another country.

The commissioner may require the attendance of witnesses and examine under oath all persons whose testimony he or she requires relative to loans or business regulated by this division or to the subject matter of any examination, investigation, or hearing.

(a) The cost of each examination of a licensee or a person subject to this division shall be paid to the commissioner by the licensee or person examined, and the commissioner may maintain an action for the recovery of the cost in any court of competent jurisdiction. In determining the cost of an examination, the commissioner may use the estimated average hourly cost for all persons performing examinations of licensees or other persons subject to this division for the fiscal year.
  (b) For the purpose of this section only, no person other than a licensee shall be deemed to be a person subject to this division until the person is determined to be a person subject to this division by an administrative hearing in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code or by a judicial hearing in any court of competent jurisdiction.

(a) If, upon inspection, examination, or investigation, the commissioner has cause to believe that a licensee or other person is violating any provision of this division or any rule or order thereunder, the commissioner or his or her designee, may issue a citation to the licensee or person in writing, describing with particularity the basis of the citation. Each citation may contain an order to correct the violation or violations identified and provide a reasonable time period or periods by which the violation or violations must be corrected. In addition, each citation may assess an administrative fine not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) that shall be deposited in the State Corporations Fund. In assessing a fine, the commissioner shall give due consideration to the appropriateness of the amount of the fine with respect to factors including the gravity of the violation, the good faith of the person or licensees cited, and the history of previous violations. A citation issued or a fine assessed pursuant to this section, while constituting punishment for a violation of law, shall be in lieu of other administrative discipline by the commissioner for the offense or offenses cited, and the citation and fine payment thereof by a licensee shall not be reported as disciplinary action taken by the commissioner.
  (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), nothing in this section shall prevent the commissioner from issuing an order to desist and refrain from engaging in a specific business or activity or activities, or an order to suspend all business operations to a person or licensee who is engaged in or who has engaged in continued or repeated violations of this division. In any of these circumstances, the sanctions authorized under this section shall be separate from, and in addition to, all other administrative, civil, or criminal remedies.
  (c) If, within 30 days from the receipt of the citation, the licensee or person cited fails to notify the department that he or she intends to request a hearing as described in subdivision (d), the citation shall be deemed final.
  (d) Any hearing under this section 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.
  (e) After the exhaustion of the review procedures provided for in this section, the commissioner may apply to the appropriate superior court for a judgment in the amount of the administrative fine and an order compelling the cited licensee or person to comply with the order of the commissioner. The application, which shall include a certified copy of the final order of the commissioner, shall constitute a sufficient showing to warrant the issuance of the judgment and order.

After an examination, investigation, or hearing under this division, if the commissioner deems it of public interest or advantage, he or she may certify a record to the proper prosecuting official of the city, county, or city and county in which the act complained of, examined, or investigated occurred.

The commissioner may require the production for examination in this state of all books, records, and supporting data used by the licensee in the preparation of reports to the commissioner. The books, records, and supporting data shall be made available for examination by the commissioner in this state within 10 days after a written demand.

The commissioner may upon three days' notice and a hearing, suspend any license for a period not exceeding 30 days, pending investigation.

Any licensee may surrender any license by delivering to the commissioner written notice that the licensee surrenders that license. Surrender of the license does not affect the licensee's civil or criminal liability for acts committed prior to surrender of the license.

(a) Whenever, in the opinion of the commissioner, any person is engaged in the business as a broker or finance lender, or a mortgage loan originator, as defined in this division, without a license from the commissioner, or any licensee violates any provision of this division, any provision of an order, or any regulation adopted pursuant to this division, the commissioner may order that person or licensee to desist and to refrain from engaging in the business or further continuing that violation. If, within 30 days after the order is served, a written request for a hearing is filed and no hearing is held within 30 days thereafter, the order is rescinded. For purposes of this section, "licensee" includes a mortgage loan originator.
  (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if, after an investigation, the commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that a person is conducting business in an unsafe or injurious manner, the commissioner shall, by written order addressed to that person, direct the discontinuance of the unsafe or injurious practices. The order shall be effective immediately, but shall not become final except in accordance with the provisions of Section 22717.

(a) Whenever the commissioner believes from evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that any person has violated or is about to violate a provision of this division, or a provision of any order, license, decision, demand, requirement, or any regulation adopted pursuant to this division, the commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion, bring an action, or the commissioner may request the Attorney General to bring an action in the name of the people of the State of California, against that person to enjoin that person from continuing that violation or doing any act in furtherance of the violation. Upon a proper showing, a permanent or preliminary injunction, restraining order, or writ of mandate shall be granted and other ancillary relief may be granted as appropriate.
  (b) If the commissioner determines that it is in the public interest, the commissioner may include in any action authorized by subdivision (a) a claim for ancillary relief, including, but not limited to, a claim for restitution, disgorgement, or damages on behalf of the persons injured by the act or practice constituting the subject matter of the action. The court shall have jurisdiction to award additional relief.
  (c) Any person who willfully violates any provisions of this division, or who willfully violates any rule or order adopted pursuant to this division, shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation, which shall be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the people of the State of California by the commissioner in any court of competent jurisdiction.
  (d) As applied to the penalties for acts in violation of this division, the remedies provided by this section and by other sections of this division are not exclusive, and may be sought and employed in any combination to enforce the provisions of this division.

(a) The commissioner shall suspend or revoke any license, upon notice and reasonable opportunity to be heard, if the commissioner finds any of the following:
  (1) The licensee has failed to comply with any demand, ruling, or requirement of the commissioner made pursuant to and within the authority of this division.
  (2) The licensee has violated any provision of this division or any rule or regulation made by the commissioner under and within the authority of this division.
  (3) A fact or condition exists that, if it had existed at the time of the original application for the license, reasonably would have warranted the commissioner in refusing to issue the license originally.
  (4) There has been repeated failure by the finance lender, when making or negotiating loans, to take into consideration in determining the size and duration of loans, the financial ability of the borrower to repay the loan in the time and manner provided in the loan contract, or to refinance the loan at maturity.
  (b) A master license may not be suspended or revoked pursuant to this section as a result of any action or failure to act by a subsidiary licensee unless grounds exist for the suspension or revocation of the master license pursuant to this section. An order suspending or revoking a license or imposing sanctions against a licensee shall not affect other licensed locations unless expressly stated in the order.

The commissioner may by order summarily suspend or revoke the license of any licensee if that person fails to file the report required by Section 22159 within 10 days after notice by the commissioner that the report is due and not filed. If, after an order is made, a request for hearing is filed in writing within 30 days and the hearing is not held within 60 days thereafter, the order is deemed rescinded as of its effective date.

The revocation, suspension, expiration, or surrender of any license does not impair or affect the obligation of any preexisting lawful contract between the licensee and any borrower.

Except in cases in which the time for setting the hearing is shortened as provided in this division, the proceedings under this article 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 in all cases the commissioner has all the powers granted therein.

Every order, decision, license, or other official act of the commissioner is subject to judicial review in accordance with law.