Section § 28112

Explanation

This section outlines what an applicant must do to apply for a license. The applicant needs to fill out a special form and submit it to the commissioner, signing it under penalty of perjury.

They have to pay fees totaling $400 and cover the cost of fingerprinting and a criminal history check. These fees are non-refundable if the application is denied or withdrawn.

Applicants must show they have a financial worth of at least $250,000 through audited financial statements, unless they are part of a larger company that meets specific SEC reporting rules. In that case, they can submit their parent company’s financial documents.

An applicant shall apply for a license by submitting all of the following to the commissioner:
(a)CA Financial Code § 28112(a) A completed application for a license in a form prescribed by the commissioner and signed under penalty of perjury.
(b)CA Financial Code § 28112(b) The sum of one hundred dollars ($100) as a fee for investigating the application, plus the cost of fingerprint processing and the criminal history record check under Section 28116, and three hundred dollars ($300) as an application fee. The investigation fee, including the amount for the criminal history record check, and the application fee are not refundable if an application is denied or withdrawn.
(c)CA Financial Code § 28112(c) Audited financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and acceptable to the commissioner that indicate a net worth of at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000).
(d)CA Financial Code § 28112(d) Subject to the commissioner’s discretion, an applicant or licensee that is a wholly owned subsidiary of a public holding company required to comply with the reporting requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission may satisfy the requirement of subdivision (c) by submitting the annual consolidated audited financial statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including consolidating financial statements of the subsidiary.

Section § 28114

Explanation

This law outlines the process for conducting criminal background checks on individuals applying for certain licenses. The commissioner must send fingerprints and related info to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to check for criminal records or pending charges. The DOJ sends fingerprints to the FBI for a federal check and reviews the results before responding to the commissioner. The commissioner must also ask the DOJ to notify them of any future arrests of the license applicant. Applicants must pay a fee for this service.

(a)CA Financial Code § 28114(a) The commissioner shall submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of every applicant for a license for purposes of obtaining information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal convictions, state or federal arrests, and information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal arrests for which the Department of Justice establishes that the person is free on bail or on his or her own recognizance pending trial or appeal.
(b)CA Financial Code § 28114(b) When received, the Department of Justice shall transmit fingerprint images and related information received pursuant to this section to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining a federal criminal history records check. The Department of Justice shall review the information returned from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and compile and disseminate a response to the commissioner.
(c)CA Financial Code § 28114(c) The Department of Justice shall provide a response to the commissioner pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code.
(d)CA Financial Code § 28114(d) The commissioner shall request from the Department of Justice subsequent arrest notification service, as provided pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code, for the license applicant described in subdivision (a).
(e)CA Financial Code § 28114(e) The Department of Justice shall charge a fee, payable by the applicant, sufficient to cover the costs of processing the requests pursuant to this section.

Section § 28116

Explanation

When someone applies for a financial license under Section 28112 and pays the necessary fees, the commissioner will investigate their background. This includes investigating key people like general partners or those who own or control at least 10% of the company, especially if they're responsible for the company's business activities in California.

If the company is a corporation or other complex structure, the investigation extends to principal officers like the president, CEO, or CFO, plus others responsible for the company's operations in the state.

For license applications under Section 28128, the focus is on evaluating new business locations, specifically looking into key individuals overseeing these sites. The commissioner will only consider new information not covered in previous applications and will grant the license if everything checks out.

"Principal officers" include those with direct oversight of the company's activities like the president, CEO, treasurer, and chief financial officer.

(a)CA Financial Code § 28116(a) Upon the filing of an application for a license pursuant to Section 28112 and the payment of the fees, the commissioner shall investigate the applicant and its general partners and individuals owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interests or any individual responsible for the conduct of the applicant’s servicing activities in this state, if the applicant is a partnership. If the applicant is a corporation, trust, limited liability company, or association, including an unincorporated organization, the commissioner shall investigate the applicant, its principal officers, directors, trustee, managing members, and individuals owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding equity securities or any individual responsible for the conduct of the applicant’s servicing activities in this state.
(b)CA Financial Code § 28116(b) Upon the filing of an application for a license pursuant to Section 28128 and the payment of the fees, the commissioner shall investigate the individual responsible for the servicing activity of the licensee at the new location described in the application. The investigation may be limited to information that was not included in prior applications filed pursuant to this division. If the commissioner determines that the applicant has satisfied this division and does not find facts constituting reasons for denial, the commissioner shall issue and deliver a license to the applicant.
(c)CA Financial Code § 28116(c) For the purposes of this section, “principal officers” shall mean president, chief executive officer, treasurer, and chief financial officer, as may be applicable, and any other officer with direct responsibility for the conduct of the applicant’s servicing activities in this state.

Section § 28117

Explanation

Before getting a license, applicants must formally appoint the commissioner as their attorney to receive any legal papers in a noncriminal judicial or administrative case related to specific regulations. This means the commissioner can accept such documents on behalf of the applicant, as if served directly to them.

If papers are served, a copy must be left at the commissioner's office. However, it's only considered valid if the person serving the papers sends a notice and a copy to the applicant's last known address via registered or certified mail, and files an affidavit showing they followed this process, either by the specified date or by a deadline set by the court or administrative agency.

(a)CA Financial Code § 28117(a) Before an applicant is issued a license, the applicant shall file with the commissioner, in such form as the commissioner may require, an appointment irrevocably appointing the commissioner to be the applicant’s or licensee’s attorney, to receive service of any lawful process in any noncriminal judicial or administrative proceeding against the applicant or licensee, or any of its successors, that arises under this division or under any regulation or order issued under this division after such appointment has been filed, with the same force and validity as if served personally on the applicant, licensee, or successor.
(b)CA Financial Code § 28117(b) Service may be made by leaving a copy of the process at any office of the commissioner, but that service is not effective unless (1) the party making that service, who may be the commissioner, sends notice of service and a copy of the process by registered or certified mail to the party served at its last address on file with the commissioner, and (2) an affidavit of compliance with this section by the party making service is filed in the case on or before the return date, if any, or within such further time as the court, in the case of a judicial proceeding, or the administrative agency, in the case of an administrative proceeding, allows.

Section § 28118

Explanation

Once an application is fully complete and includes information from the Department of Justice, the commissioner must either issue a license or explain in writing why the application was denied.

The commissioner shall, when the application is complete, including having received the information from the Department of Justice, either grant a license pursuant to this division or provide a written explanation for the denial.

Section § 28120

Explanation

If you're applying for a license and it gets denied, the whole process follows specific government rules. The commissioner can say no to your license for several reasons. These include lying on your application, being involved in crimes or fraud in the last ten years, not following rules, failing to meet important requirements, or having a history of legal or financial issues. The commissioner also needs to believe that you and the key people in your company are honest, responsible, and capable of running the business properly.

(a)CA Financial Code § 28120(a) The proceedings for a denial of a license shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(b)CA Financial Code § 28120(b) The commissioner may deny an application for a license for any of the following reasons:
(1)CA Financial Code § 28120(b)(1) A false statement of a material fact has been made in the application.
(2)CA Financial Code § 28120(b)(2) The applicant or any principal officer, director, general partner, managing member, or individual owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interests or equity securities of the applicant, within the last 10 years has (A) been convicted of, or pleaded nolo contendere to, a crime or (B) committed any act involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit, if the crime or act is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a person engaged in business in accordance with this division.
(3)CA Financial Code § 28120(b)(3) The applicant or any principal officer, director, general partner, managing member, or individual owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interests or equity securities of the applicant, has violated, or is not in material compliance with this division, or an order or rule of the commissioner.
(4)CA Financial Code § 28120(b)(4) A material requirement for issuance of a license has not been met.
(5)CA Financial Code § 28120(b)(5) The applicant or any principal officer, director, general partner, managing member, or individual owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interests or equity securities of the applicant, has violated this division or the rules thereunder, or any similar regulatory scheme of this or a foreign jurisdiction.
(6)CA Financial Code § 28120(b)(6) The applicant or any principal officer, director, general partner, managing member, or individual owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interests or equity securities of the applicant, has been held liable in any civil action by final judgment or any administrative judgment by any public agency within the past seven years.
(7)CA Financial Code § 28120(b)(7) The commissioner, based on its investigation of the applicant, is unable to find that the financial responsibility, criminal records, experience, character, and general fitness of the applicant and its general partners, managing members, principal officers and directors, and individuals owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interests or equity securities of the applicant, support a finding that the business will be operated honestly, fairly, efficiently, and in accordance with the requirements of this division.

Section § 28122

Explanation

If you're applying for a license and you don't respond to information requests from the commissioner, your application can be considered abandoned.

You have 60 days to reply to these requests, or else the application is deemed abandoned. Any fees you paid won't be refunded if this happens, but you can apply again with a new application and fee.

(a)CA Financial Code § 28122(a) The commissioner may deem an application for a license abandoned if the applicant fails to respond to any request for information required by the commissioner or department during an investigation of the application.
(b)CA Financial Code § 28122(b) The commissioner shall notify the applicant, in writing, that if the applicant fails to submit responsive information within 60 days from the date the commissioner sent the written request for information, the commissioner shall deem the application abandoned.
(c)CA Financial Code § 28122(c) An application fee paid prior to the date an application is deemed abandoned shall not be refunded. Abandonment of an application pursuant to this subdivision shall not preclude the applicant from submitting a new application and fee for a license.

Section § 28124

Explanation

This law states that a license will stay valid until the commissioner suspends or revokes it, or until the person holding the license gives it up willingly.

A license shall remain effective until the license is either suspended or revoked by the commissioner or surrendered by the licensee.