(a) As often as the commissioner deems necessary and appropriate, but at least once every 48 months, the commissioner shall examine the affairs of each residential mortgage lender and servicer licensee for compliance with this division. The commissioner shall appoint suitable persons to perform the examination. The commissioner and his or her appointees may examine the books, records, and documents of the licensee, and may examine the licensee’s officers, directors, employees, or agents under oath regarding the licensee’s operations. The commissioner may cooperate with any agency of the state or federal government, other states, agencies, the Federal National Mortgage Association, or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. The commissioner may accept an examination conducted by one of these entities in place of an examination by the commissioner under this law, unless the commissioner determines that the examination does not provide information necessary to enable the commissioner to fulfill his or her responsibilities under this division.
(b) The commissioner shall provide a written statement of the findings of the examination, issue a copy of that statement to each licensee’s principals, officers, or directors, and take appropriate steps to ensure correction of any violations of this division.
(c) Affiliates of a licensee are subject to examination by the commissioner on the same terms as the licensee, but only when reports from, or examination of, a licensee provides documented evidence of unlawful activity between a licensee and affiliate benefiting, affecting, or arising from the activities regulated by this division.
(d) The residential mortgage lender or servicer licensee shall pay, and the commissioner shall assess, the reasonable expenses of any examination of the licensee and affiliates, consistent with the requirements of subdivision (c) of Section 50314.
(e) The statement of the findings of an examination shall belong to the commissioner and shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the licensee, law enforcement officials, or other state or federal regulatory agencies for further investigation and enforcement. Reports required of licensees by the commissioner under this division and results of examinations performed by the commissioner under this division are the property of the commissioner.
(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 160, Sec. 70. (SB 36) Effective October 11, 2009.)