The commissioner, in any proceeding under Section 742.37 for any of the violations specified in that section, may by alternative order permit the holder of that certificate of compliance to elect in writing to pay a specified money penalty, within a specified time, in lieu of the suspension of its certificate of compliance. If the holder so elects, the sum of money specified shall be paid to the commissioner for use of the state, and 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 is stayed, put in effect the alternatives specified in his or her order.
All money 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 compliance unless otherwise authorized by law.
(Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1082, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1995.)