(a) (1) Whenever the commissioner takes any enforcement or disciplinary action against a licensee, and the enforcement or disciplinary action is related to escrow services provided pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of § 17006 of the Financial Code, upon the action becoming final the commissioner shall notify the Insurance Commissioner and the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation of the action or actions taken. The purpose of this notification is to alert the departments that enforcement or disciplinary action has been taken, if the licensee seeks or obtains employment with entities regulated by the departments.

(2) The commissioner shall provide the Insurance Commissioner and the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation, in addition to the notification of the action taken, with a copy of the written accusation, statement of issues, or order issued or filed in the matter and, at the request of the Insurance Commissioner or the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation, with any underlying factual material relevant to the enforcement or disciplinary action. Any confidential information provided by the commissioner to the Insurance Commissioner or the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation shall not be made public pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any other law, the disclosure of any underlying factual material to the Insurance Commissioner or the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation shall not operate as a waiver of confidentiality or any privilege that the commissioner may assert.

Terms Used In California Business and Professions Code 10176.1

  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • Licensee: means any person authorized by a license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600. See California Business and Professions Code 23.8
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Business and Professions Code 21
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs, unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Business and Professions Code 15

(b) The commissioner shall establish and maintain, on the internet website maintained by the Department of Real Estate, a database of its licensees, including those who have been subject to any enforcement or disciplinary action that triggers the notification requirements of this section. The database shall also contain a direct link to the databases, described in § 17423.1 of the Financial Code and § 12414.31 of the Insurance Code and required to be maintained on the internet websites of the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation and the Department of Insurance, respectively, of persons who have been subject to enforcement or disciplinary action for malfeasance or misconduct related to the escrow industry by the Insurance Commissioner and the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation.

(c) There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against, the State of California, the Department of Real Estate, the Real Estate Commissioner, any other state agency, or any officer, agent, employee, consultant, or contractor of the state, for the release of any false or unauthorized information pursuant to this section, unless the release of that information was done with knowledge and malice, or for the failure to release any information pursuant to this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 431, Sec. 18. (SB 800) Effective January 1, 2022.)

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