(a) If the secretary is not satisfied that an applicant or licensee is financially responsible, the secretary may, in lieu of denying, suspending, or revoking the license, accept an irrevocable guarantee of the obligations of the licensee to all California farm product creditors. The irrevocable guarantee may include a personal or corporate guarantee, a certificate of deposit, a bank letter of credit, or a surety bond, as determined to be appropriate by the secretary, and shall be in an amount that is at least sufficient to pay for the licensee’s obligations at the time the guarantee is issued. The guarantee shall be for any period, in any form, and in any amount that the secretary may, from time to time, require. The secretary may, as a condition of accepting and maintaining the guarantee, require the guarantor to supply financial information to the secretary at times and to the extent the secretary deems advisable.
(b) A guarantee placed with the secretary pursuant to subdivision (a) shall support an action in a court of competent jurisdiction by a farm products creditor for obligations of the licensee to the creditor and by a state officer for the obligations of the licensee to the state related to transactions subject to the guarantee.
(c) An irrevocable guarantee accepted by the secretary pursuant to this section shall not operate as a release for purposes of Section 55637.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 465, Sec. 1. (AB 907) Effective January 1, 2013.)