CHAPTER 5. Enforcement [28154 - 28176]
( Chapter 5 added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 824, Sec. 2. )
(a) If a licensee fails to do either of the following, the commissioner shall impose a penalty in a sum of up to one hundred dollars ($100) for every day late:
(1) To make any report required by law or by the commissioner within 10 days from the day designated for the making of the report, or within any extension of time granted by the commissioner.
(2) To include therein any matter required by law or by the commissioner.
(b) The commissioner may by order summarily suspend or revoke the license if a licensee fails to file any report required by this
division.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 379, Sec. 21. (AB 38) Effective January 1, 2019.)
(a) The commissioner may, after appropriate notice and opportunity for hearing, by order, censure or suspend for a period not exceeding 12 months, or bar from any position of employment, management, or control of any licensee, or any other person, if the commissioner finds either of the following:
(1) That the censure, suspension, or bar is in
the public interest and that the person has committed or caused a violation of this division or rule or order of the commissioner, which violation was either known or should have been known by the person committing or causing it or has caused material damage to the licensee or to the public.
(2) That the person has been convicted of or pleaded nolo contendere to any crime, or has been held liable in any civil action by final judgment, or any administrative judgment by any public agency, if that crime or civil or administrative judgment involved any offense specified in subdivision (b) of Section 50317, or any other offense reasonably related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a person engaged in the business in accordance with the provisions of this division.
(b) Within 15 days from the date of a notice of intention to issue an order pursuant to subdivision (a), the
person may request a hearing under the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). Upon receipt of a request, the matter shall be set for hearing to commence within 30 days after such receipt unless the person subject to this division consents to a later date. If no hearing is requested within 15 days after the mailing or service of such notice and none is ordered by the commissioner, the failure to request a hearing shall constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing.
(c) Upon receipt of a notice of intention to issue an order pursuant to this section, the person who is the subject of the proposed order is immediately prohibited from engaging in any servicing.
(d) Persons suspended or barred under this section are prohibited from participating in any business activity of a licensee and from engaging in
any business activity on the premises where a licensee is servicing.
(e) This section shall apply to any violation, conviction, plea, or judgment occurring at any time prior to and after the enactment of this section.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 824, Sec. 2. (AB 2251) Effective January 1, 2017. Operative July 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 28182.)
If, after investigation, the commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that a licensee is conducting or has conducted business in an unsafe or injurious manner, the commissioner shall, by written order addressed to the licensee, 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 28164.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 188, Sec. 16. (AB 2433) Effective January 1, 2023.)
Whenever, in the opinion of the commissioner, a person is engaged in the business of servicing student loans in this state, either actually or through subterfuge, without a license from the commissioner, the commissioner may order that person to desist and refrain. If, within 30 days after an order is served, a request for a hearing is filed in writing and the hearing is not held within 60 days of the filing, the order is
rescinded. This section does not apply to persons exempted under subdivision (b) of Section 28102.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 824, Sec. 2. (AB 2251) Effective January 1, 2017. Operative July 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 28182.)
If, after investigation, the commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that a licensee is failing to comply with this division or any regulation or order of the commissioner, the commissioner shall, by written order addressed to the licensee, direct the discontinuance of the failure to comply. The order shall be effective immediately, but shall not become final except in accordance with the provisions of Section
28164.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 824, Sec. 2. (AB 2251) Effective January 1, 2017. Operative July 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 28182.)
(a) No order issued pursuant to this chapter may become final except after notice to the affected licensee of the commissioner’s intention to make the order final and of the reasons for the finding. The commissioner shall also notify the licensee that upon receiving a request, the matter will be set for hearing to commence within 15 business days after receipt. The licensee may consent to have the hearing commence at a later date. If no hearing is requested within 30 days after the mailing or service of the required notice, and none is ordered by the commissioner, the order may become final without hearing and the licensee shall immediately discontinue the practices named in the order. If a hearing is requested or ordered, it shall be held in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 5
(commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), and the commissioner shall have all of the powers granted under that act. If, upon the hearing, it appears to the commissioner that the licensee is conducting business in an unsafe and injurious manner or is failing or has failed to comply with this division or any regulation or order of the commissioner, the commissioner shall make the order of discontinuance final and the licensee shall immediately discontinue the practices named in the order.
(b) The licensee has 10 days after an order is made final to commence an action to restrain enforcement of the order. If the enforcement of the order is not enjoined within 10 days by the court in which the action is brought, the licensee shall comply with the order.
(c) The commissioner may immediately revoke the licensee’s license if the licensee
fails to comply with any order issued under this division. The commissioner shall not revoke the license if, within 10 days from the effective date of the revocation order, the licensee secures a court order restraining the enforcement of the commissioner’s revocation order.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 188, Sec. 17. (AB 2433) Effective January 1, 2023.)
The commissioner may issue an order suspending or revoking a license if, after notice and an opportunity for hearing, the commissioner finds any of the following:
(a) The licensee is violating this division or a regulation adopted or an order issued under this division.
(b) The licensee does not
cooperate with an examination or investigation by the commissioner.
(c) The licensee engages in fraud, intentional misrepresentation, or gross negligence in servicing a student loan.
(d) The competence, experience, character, or general fitness of the licensee, an individual specified in Section 28116, or any person responsible for servicing a student loan for the licensee indicates that it is not in the public interest to permit the licensee to continue servicing student loans.
(e) The licensee engages in unsafe or injurious practice.
(f) The licensee is insolvent, suspends payment of its obligations, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors.
(g) Any fact or
condition exists that, if it had existed at the time the licensee applied for the license, would have been grounds for denying the application.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 824, Sec. 2. (AB 2251) Effective January 1, 2017. Operative July 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 28182.)
(a) If, after investigation, the commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that a person has engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice constituting a violation of any provision of this division or any rule or order hereunder, the commissioner may bring an action to enjoin the acts or practices or to enforce compliance with this division or any rule or order adopted under this division. The action shall be brought in the name of the people of the State of California in the superior court. Upon a proper showing, a permanent or preliminary
injunction, restraining order, or writ of mandate shall be granted. A receiver, monitor, conservator, or other designated fiduciary or officer of the court, which may include the commissioner, may be appointed for the defendant or the defendant’s assets. Any other ancillary relief may be granted as appropriate.
A receiver, monitor, conservator, or other designated fiduciary or officer of the court appointed by the superior court pursuant to this section may, with the approval of the court, exercise any or all of the powers of the defendant’s officers, directors, partners, trustees, or persons who exercise similar powers and perform similar duties. The powers include the filing of a petition for bankruptcy. No action at law or in equity may be maintained by any party against the commissioner, or a receiver, monitor, conservator, or other designated fiduciary or officer of the court, by reason of their exercising these powers or performing these duties pursuant to the order of, or with the approval of,
the superior court.
(b) If the commissioner determines it is in the public interest, the commissioner may include in any action authorized by subdivision (a) a claim for ancillary relief. The ancillary relief may include, but not be limited to, restitution or 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.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 824, Sec. 2. (AB 2251) Effective January 1, 2017. Operative July 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 28182.)
(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 servicing student loans 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 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.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 824, Sec. 2. (AB 2251) Effective January 1, 2017. Operative July 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 28182.)
(a) Any person who violates a provision of this division, or any rule or order under this division, shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation. This penalty 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.
(b) 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.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 824, Sec. 2. (AB 2251) Effective January 1, 2017. Operative July 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 28182.)
(a) The commissioner may refer the evidence that is available concerning any violation of this division or of any rule or order adopted under this division to the district attorney of the county in which the violation occurred. The district attorney may, with or without the commissioner’s referral, institute criminal proceedings under this division. The commissioner and his or her counsel, deputies, or assistants may, upon request of the district attorney, assist the district attorney in presenting the law or facts at the trial.
(b) 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 county or city in which the act complained of, examined, or investigated occurred.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 824, Sec. 2. (AB 2251) Effective January 1, 2017. Operative July 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 28182.)
All hearings provided for in this division shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. The commissioner has all the powers granted therein.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 824, Sec. 2. (AB 2251) Effective January 1, 2017. Operative July 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 28182.)