(a) The board, after appropriate notice and an opportunity for hearing, may order any licensee or applicant for licensure or examination to pay an administrative penalty as provided in this article as part of any disciplinary proceeding or other proceeding provided for in this chapter.
(b) The board may assess administrative penalties under one or more provisions of this article. However, the total administrative penalty to be paid by the licensee shall not exceed the amount of the highest administrative penalty authorized by this article.
(c) The board shall adopt regulations to establish criteria for assessing administrative penalties based upon factors, including, but not limited to, actual and potential consumer harm, nature and severity of the violation, the role of the person in the violation, the person’s ability to pay the administrative penalty, and the level of administrative penalty necessary to deter future violations of this chapter.
(d) Administrative penalties assessed under this article shall be in addition to any other penalties or sanctions imposed on the licensee or other person, including, but not limited to, license revocation, license suspension, denial of the application for licensure, denial of the petition for reinstatement, or denial of admission to the licensing examination. Payment of these administrative penalties may be included as a condition of probation when probation is ordered.
(e) All administrative penalties collected under this article shall be deposited in the Accountancy Fund.
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 921, Sec. 14. Effective January 1, 2005.)