(a) Subject to the exceptions set forth in Section 1796.17, an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, joint venture, association, or other entity shall not arrange for the provision of home care services by a registered home care aide to a client in this state before obtaining a license pursuant to this chapter. This shall be deemed “unlicensed home care services.”
(b) Upon discovering an individual or entity is in violation of subdivision (a), the department shall send a written notice of noncompliance to the individual or entity and assess a civil penalty of nine hundred dollars ($900) per day for each calendar day of each violation.
(c) Upon discovering that an individual or entity is in violation of subdivision (a), the department shall send a copy of the written notice of noncompliance to the individual or entity and to the Attorney General or appropriate district attorney or city attorney.
(d) Upon receiving this notice, the Attorney General, district attorney, or city attorney may do any or all of the following:
(1) Issue a cease and desist order, which shall remain in effect until the individual or entity has obtained a license pursuant to this chapter. If the individual or entity fails to comply with the cease and desist order within 20 calendar days, the Attorney General, district attorney, or city attorney may apply for an injunction.
(2) Bring an action against the individual or entity under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 17200) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code.
(Added by renumbering Section 1796.36 by Stats. 2014, Ch. 29, Sec. 45. (SB 855) Effective June 20, 2014. Provisions implemented as of January 1, 2016, pursuant to Section 1796.61.)