(a) The director may deny a license or registration regulated by this chapter on the grounds that the applicant has done any of the following:
(1) Knowingly made a false statement of fact required to be revealed in the application for a license.
(2) Been convicted of a crime. A conviction within the meaning of this section means a plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere. Any action which the bureau is permitted to take following the establishment of a conviction may be taken when the time for appeal has elapsed, or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal, or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, irrespective of a subsequent order under Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code.
(3) Committed any act involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit, with the intent to substantially benefit himself, herself, or another, or to substantially injure another.
(4) Committed any act which, if done by a licensee, would be grounds for suspension or revocation of a license.
(5) Been refused a license under this chapter or had a license revoked.
(6) Been an officer, partner, or manager of any person who has been refused a license under this chapter or whose license has been suspended or revoked.
(b) The bureau may deny a license or registration pursuant to this section only if the crime or act is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the license or registration for which application has been made.
(c) The denial of a license or registration shall be in writing and shall describe the basis for the denial. The denial shall inform the applicant that if he or she desires a hearing in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the review shall be requested within 30 days of the issuance of the denial.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no person shall be denied a license or registration solely on the basis that he or she has been convicted of a felony, if he or she has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, or solely on the basis that he or she has been convicted of a misdemeanor, if he or she has met all applicable requirements of the criteria of rehabilitation as provided in Section 6980.72.
(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1263, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1994.)