(a) If, after examination or investigation, the director has reasonable grounds to believe that irreparable loss and injury to the plan’s enrollee or enrollees occurred or may occur as a result of any act or practice unless the director acts immediately, the director may, by written order, addressed to that person, order the discontinuance of the unsafe or injurious act or practice. The order shall become effective immediately, but shall not become final except in accordance with this section.
(b) No order issued pursuant to this section shall become final except after notice to the affected person of the director’s intention to make the order final and of the reasons for the finding. The director shall also notify that person that upon receiving a request for hearing by the plan, the matter shall be set for hearing to commence with 15 business days after receipt of the request, unless that person consents to have the hearing commence at a later date.
(c) If no hearing is requested within 15 days after the mailing or service of the required notice, and none is ordered by the director, the order shall become final on the 15th day without a hearing and shall not be subject to review by any court or agency notwithstanding subdivision (b) of Section 1397.
(d) 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 director shall have all of the powers granted under that act.
(e) If, upon conclusion of the hearing, it appears to the director that the affected person has conducted business in an unsafe or injurious manner, the director shall make the order of discontinuance final.
(f) For purposes of this section, “person” includes any plan, solicitor firm, or any representative thereof, a solicitor, or any other person defined in subdivision (j) of Section 1345.
(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 857, Sec. 44. Effective January 1, 2001.)