The commissioner, in any proceeding under Section 704 for any of the violations specified in that section, may, by an alternative order, permit the holder of that certificate of authority to elect in writing to pay a specified money penalty, within a specified time, in lieu of the suspension of its certificate of authority. If the holder so elects, the sum of money specified shall be paid to the commissioner for the use of the State of California. The sum specified shall not exceed fifty-five thousand dollars ($55,000). If the holder so electing fails to pay the specified sum within the specified time the commissioner shall, unless his or her order be lawfully stayed, forthwith put in effect the alternative specified in his or her order.
All moneys received by the commissioner pursuant to this section shall, when appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature, be available for expenditure by the commissioner in accordance with law in administration and enforcement of this code and other insurance laws.
The authority vested in the commissioner by this section shall be additional to and not in lieu of any other authority to enforce any penalties, fines or forfeitures, denials, suspensions, restrictions, or revocations of certificates of authority otherwise authorized by law.
(Amended by Stats. 1988, Ch. 1018, Sec. 1.)