All funds received as claim proceeds by any person acting as a public insurance adjuster are received and held by that person in his or her fiduciary capacity. Any person who diverts or appropriates any fiduciary funds for his or her own use is guilty of theft and punishable for theft as provided by law. Every applicant for a license to act as a public insurance adjuster shall, as part of the application, endorse an authorization for disclosure to the commissioner of all financial records of any fiduciary funds as defined in this section, pursuant to Section 7473 of the Government Code. The authorization shall continue in force and effect for so long as the licensee continues to be licensed by the department.
(Added by Stats. 1985, Ch. 1202, Sec. 1.)