Section 56182.5 Of Article 4. Licenses From California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 20. >> Chapter 7. >> Article 4.
56182.5
. (a) It is unlawful for a licensee that has changed its
legal entity to do any of the following:
(1) Continue to operate after the change.
(2) Purchase or handle any farm product from a person who had a
farm product contract with the former licensee at the time of the
change in entity without notifying that person, in writing, of the
change in entity.
(3) Use any invoice, contract, or other document associated with
the purchase, consignment, or brokerage of any farm product that
identifies the former licensee unless the new entity is conspicuously
identified on the same invoice, contract, or other document as the
entity responsible for the transaction.
(b) The new entity shall notify the director in writing of the
change in legal entity within 15 days of the change. The new legal
entity shall, before it conducts business that requires a license,
obtain a new license for the business.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), if a licensee conducts
business without a new license as a result of a change of legal
entity, it may, within 120 days of the change, upon a showing of no
substantial change in financial resources and liabilities, petition
the director to grant a new license retroactive to the first day of
the month during which the change occurred, and the director may
grant the license with retroactive effect upon a finding that doing
so would be consistent with the purposes of this chapter. Upon
granting the petition, the director shall (1) require the licensee to
pay an additional fee in an amount that will cover the expenses of
the department in the matter, but not to exceed the fee for a new
license, (2) place conditions on the license that are consistent with
the purposes of this chapter as the director deems appropriate, and
(3) require the licensee to pay an amount, for deposit in the Farm
Products Trust Fund, equal to the amount that would have been
required had the license been obtained in accordance with subdivision
(b).