Article 1. Administrative Actions of California Financial Code >> Division 10. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 1.

(a) Licenses issued under this division remain in effect until they are surrendered, revoked, or suspended.
  (b) The 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, the surrender of a license becomes effective at the time and upon the conditions that the commissioner determines.
  (c) The power of investigation and examination by the commissioner is not terminated by the surrender, suspension, or revocation of any license issued by the commissioner.
  (d) Whenever the commissioner deems it necessary for the general welfare of the public, the commissioner shall have 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.
  (e) The commissioner may, upon three days' notice and a hearing, suspend any license for a period not exceeding 30 days, pending investigation, where the commissioner believes that a person subject to this division is conducting business in an unsafe or injurious manner.
  (f) Any licensee may surrender any license by delivering to the commissioner written notice that the licensee surrenders that license pursuant to subdivision (b). The surrender of the license does not affect the licensee's civil or criminal liability for acts committed prior to the surrender of the license.

(a) For the purpose of discovering violations of this division or securing information required by the commissioner in the administration and enforcement of this division, the commissioner may at any time, but not less than once every two years, investigate the business of deferred deposits, and examine the books, accounts, records, and files used in the business of deferred deposit transactions, of every person engaged in the business of deferred deposit transactions, whether the person acts or claims to act as a principal or an agent, or under or without the authority of this division. For the purpose of examination, the commissioner and the commissioner's representatives shall have free access to the offices and places of business, books, accounts, papers, records, files, safes, and vaults of all these persons.
  (b) 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.

(a) 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 by the keeper, 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.
  (b) 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.

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

After an examination, investigation, or hearing under this division, if the commissioner deems it of public interest or advantage, the commissioner 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 data and records shall be kept confidential pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code and any regulations adopted thereunder.

Whenever, in the opinion of the commissioner, any person is engaged in the business of deferred deposit transactions, as defined in this division, without a license from the commissioner, or any licensee is violating any provision of this division, the commissioner may order that person or licensee to desist and to refrain from engaging in the business or further violating this division. 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.

(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 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 violates any provision of this division, or who 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.

The commissioner may suspend or revoke any license, upon notice and reasonable opportunity to be heard, if the commissioner finds any of the following:
  (a) 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.
  (b) 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.
  (c) 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.

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 23026 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.

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.

On December 1, 2007, the commissioner shall report to the Governor and the Legislature on its implementation of this division. The report shall include, at a minimum, information regarding the demand for deferred deposit transactions, the growth and trends in the industry, common practices for conducting the business of deferred deposit transactions, the advertising practices of the industry, including any violations of Section 23027, and any other information the commissioner deems necessary to inform the Governor and the Legislature regarding potential legislation that may be necessary to protect the people of the State of California. The commissioner's recommendations for future action may include, but are not limited to, changes in the fees charged to consumers, specifications regarding the length of time for deferred deposit transactions, maximum amount provided to consumers, additional regulation of advertising practices, and the implementation of an installment loan product in lieu of a deferred deposit transaction as described in this division. As the commissioner conducts this study, licensees shall be required to supply all information the commissioner deems necessary. The study shall be made public and may not include any proprietary information.

(a) If, upon inspection, examination or investigation, based upon a complaint or otherwise, the department has cause to believe that a person is engaged in the business of deferred deposit transactions without a license, or a licensee or person is violating any provision of this division or any rule or order thereunder, the department may issue a citation to that person in writing, describing with particularity the basis of the citation. Each citation may contain an order to desist and refrain and an assessment of an administrative penalty not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500). All penalties collected under this section shall be deposited in the State Corporations Fund.
  (b) 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 of the person cited fails to notify the department that the person 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, and in all states the commissioner has all the powers granted therein.
  (e) After the exhaustion of the review procedures provided for in this section, the department may apply to the appropriate superior court for a judgment in the amount of the administrative penalty and order compelling the cited person to comply with the order of the department. The application, which shall include a certified copy of the final order of the department, shall constitute a sufficient showing to warrant the issuance of the judgment and order.