(a) The department shall not deny, suspend, or revoke a license granted under this article without a hearing, except the department may suspend a license without a hearing for failure of a broker to maintain a bond as specified in subdivision (d) of Section 730, or for failure of a broker to make available to the department, for inspection, any records, as set forth in Section 735.1.
(b) The department may upon its own motion, and shall upon the verified written complaint of any person which sets forth facts which could be grounds for the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license pursuant to this article, investigate the actions of any broker or salesman whether or not licensed.
(c) The suspension, expiration, or revocation by operation of law of a license issued by the department, or its surrender, whether voluntary or not, does not deprive the department of its authority, during the period in which the license may be renewed, reinstated, or reissued, to institute or continue a disciplinary proceeding against the licensee upon any ground provided by law, to enter an order suspending or revoking the license, or to take any action against the licensee on any other ground provided by law.
(d) A broker whose license has been suspended pursuant to subdivision (a) for failure to make records available to the department for inspection, may request that an expedited hearing be held within 30 days of the suspension before an administrative law judge to appeal the suspension. Upon a showing of good cause to reinstate the license, the broker’s license shall be reinstated. If no good cause is found, the broker’s license may be revoked.
(e) (1) Except as otherwise provided by law, in any order issued in resolution of a disciplinary proceeding under this article, the department may request the administrative law judge to direct a licensee found to have committed a violation or violations of this article to pay a sum not to exceed the reasonable costs of the investigation, prosecution, and enforcement of the case.
For purposes of this paragraph, “reasonable costs” shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A) Attorney, paralegal, and investigator fees and costs, including salary, travel, and other expenses attributable to hours expended on the case by employees of the office of the Attorney General and the department.
(B) Witness fees, travel, and other expenses paid to or in connection with witnesses to facilitate their attendance and testimony at the disciplinary proceeding or to facilitate their appearance at a deposition, by video or by other means.
(C) Fees and costs attributable to expert review, including, but not limited to, laboratory analysis, physical examination, and psychological examination, whether by an independent expert or a staff member of the department.
(D) Administrative expenses attributable to case preparation and presentation, including, but not limited to, exhibit preparation and document copying, postage, telephone calls, word processing, whether by an independent contractor or a staff member of the department, and costs for obtaining certified public documents.
(2) In the case of a disciplined licensee that is a corporation or a partnership, the order may be made against the licensed corporate entity or licensed partnership.
(3) A declaration under penalty of perjury of the actual costs, or a good faith estimate of costs if the actual costs are not available, signed by the director, and containing sufficient information by which the administrative law judge can determine the costs incurred in connection with the matter and the reasonableness of the costs, shall be prima facie evidence of reasonable costs of investigation, prosecution, and enforcement of the case.
(4) The administrative law judge shall make a proposed finding of the amount of reasonable costs of investigation and prosecution of the case when requested pursuant to paragraph (1). The department may reduce or eliminate the award of any costs by the administrative law judge, and may request the administrative law judge to reconsider his or her decision if the proposed decision does not make a finding on costs as requested pursuant to paragraph (1).
(5) Where an order for recovery of costs is made and timely payment is not made as directed, the department may enforce the order for repayment in any appropriate court. This right of enforcement shall be in addition to any other rights the department may have as to any licensee to pay costs.
(6) In any action for recovery of costs, proof of the department’s decision shall be conclusive proof of the validity of the order of payment and the terms for payment.
(7) The department shall not renew or reinstate the license of any licensee who does not pay all of the costs ordered under this section.
(8) All costs recovered under this section shall be considered a reimbursement for costs incurred and shall be deposited in the Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund.
(9) Nothing in this section shall preclude the department from including the recovery of the costs of investigation, prosecution, and enforcement of a case in any stipulated settlement.
(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 475, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1999.)