2022 California Code
Financial Code - FIN
DIVISION 24 - California Consumer Financial Protection Law
CHAPTER 8 - Enforcement Powers and Duties
Section 90015.

90015. (a) The department may conduct hearings and adjudication proceedings with respect to any person in order to ensure or enforce compliance with both of the following:

(1) The provisions of this division, including any rule, final order, or condition imposed by the department, under this division.

(2) Any other law that the department is authorized to enforce and any regulations or order prescribed thereunder, unless that law specifically limits the department from conducting a hearing or adjudication proceeding and only to the extent of that limitation.

(b) All hearings provided for in this division shall be conducted in accordance with the administrative adjudication provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), and the commissioner shall have all the powers granted therein.

(c) After notice and an opportunity to be heard, the commissioner may, by order, assess penalties under subdivision (c) of Section 90012.

(d) (1) If, in the opinion of the department, any person engages, has engaged, or proposes to engage in any activity prohibited by Section 90003 or 90004, or an activity, act, practice, or course of business that violates a law, rule, order, or any condition imposed in writing on the person by the department, the department may issue an order directing the person to desist and refrain from engaging in the activity, act, practice, or course of business.

(2) If that person fails to file a written request for a hearing within 30 days from the date of service of the order, the order shall be deemed a final order of the commissioner.

(e) If any person engages, has engaged, or proposes to engage in any activity prohibited by Section 90003 or 90004, or an activity, act, practice, or course of business that violates a law, rule, order, or any condition imposed in writing on the person by the department, with respect to consumer financial products, the department may include in any administrative action authorized under this section, a claim for ancillary relief as set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 90012. The court shall have jurisdiction to award additional relief.

(f) If, in the opinion of the department, any covered person or service provider is engaging, has engaged, or proposes to engage in an activity, act, practice, or course of business that violates a law, rule, order, or any condition imposed in writing on the person by the department, the department may, after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, suspend or revoke the license or registration of the covered person or service provider.

(g) After the exhaustion of the review procedures provided for in this section, the commissioner may apply to the appropriate superior court for an order compelling the cited licensee or person to comply with the orders of the commissioner.

(1) The application shall include a certified copy of the final order of the commissioner.

(2) Upon the filing of the application, the superior court shall set a date for a hearing for an order to show cause why judgment should not be entered, which shall be set not less than 30 calendar days from the date the application is filed.

(3) The commissioner shall serve a copy of the application and final order along with notice of the hearing to all entities or persons cited in the order against whom a civil judgment is sought not less than 15 calendar days before the date set for the hearing. Service of the application shall be pursuant to the methods specified by Article 3 (commencing with Section 415.10) of Chapter 4 of Title 5 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure for service of summons.

(4) The court shall consider the filing of a certified copy of the final order of the commissioner and the proof of service of the application and notice of the hearing on the persons or entities against whom the judgment is sought, a sufficient prima facie showing to warrant the issuance of the civil judgment and order at the hearing. The respondent bears the burden of showing by affirmative evidence at the hearing why the order of the commissioner is not final, or why the timely notice of application and hearing was not provided to avoid judgment being entered by the superior court. Any method of service authorized by laws under which the final order was issued, including those methods under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code is considered valid service for the purposes of determining whether the order of the commissioner is final.

(5) The respondent shall not be allowed to raise any defenses or present any evidence at the hearing on the application that had been or could have been raised by the respondent at an administrative hearing to challenge the commissioner’s order, or in an appeal or writ from such proceedings.

(6) The judgment issued pursuant to paragraph (4) of this subdivision may be for injunctive relief or payment of ancillary relief or penalties. The judgment may be enforced by the court pursuant to the procedures authorized for any other civil judgment.

(Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 157, Sec. 7. (AB 1864) Effective January 1, 2021.)