(a) A license of a licensee or a certificate of a registrant shall be suspended automatically during any time that the licensee or registrant is incarcerated after conviction of a felony, regardless of whether the conviction has been appealed. The office shall, immediately upon receipt of the certified copy of the record of conviction, determine whether the license of the licensee or certificate of the registrant has been automatically suspended by virtue of the licensee’s or registrant’s incarceration, and if so, the duration of that suspension. The office shall notify the licensee or registrant in writing of the license or certificate suspension and of the right to elect to have the issue of penalty heard as provided in subdivision (d).

(b) If after a hearing before an administrative law judge from the Office of Administrative Hearings it is determined that the felony for which the licensee or registrant was convicted was substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a licensee or registrant, the director upon receipt of the certified copy of the record of conviction, shall suspend the license or certificate until the time for appeal has elapsed, if an appeal has not been taken, or until the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal or has otherwise become final, and until further order of the director.

Terms Used In California Business and Professions Code 11319.2

  • Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • license: means license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Section 1000 or 3600. See California Business and Professions Code 23.7
  • 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
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Business and Professions Code 21
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • 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
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a conviction of a charge of violating any federal statute or regulation or any statute or regulation of this state regulating dangerous drugs or controlled substances, or a conviction of Section 187, 261, 288, or former Section 262, of the Penal Code, shall be conclusively presumed to be substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a licensee or registrant and a hearing shall not be held on this issue. However, upon its own motion or for good cause shown, the director may decline to impose or may set aside the suspension when it appears to be in the interest of justice to do so, with due regard to maintaining the integrity of, and confidence in, the practice regulated by the office.

(d) (1) Discipline may be ordered against a licensee or registrant in accordance with the laws and regulations of the office when the time for appeal has elapsed, the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal, or an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, irrespective of a subsequent order under § 1203.4 of the Penal Code allowing the person to withdraw a plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation, complaint, information, or indictment.

(2) The issue of penalty shall be heard by an administrative law judge from the Office of Administrative Hearings. The hearing shall not be had until the judgment of conviction has become final or, irrespective of a subsequent order under § 1203.4 of the Penal Code, an order granting probation has been made suspending the imposition of sentence, except that a licensee or registrant may, at the licensee’s or registrant’s option, elect to have the issue of penalty decided before those time periods have elapsed. Where the licensee or registrant so elects, the issue of penalty shall be heard in the manner described in subdivision (b) at the hearing to determine whether the conviction was substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a licensee or registrant. If the conviction of a licensee or registrant who has made this election is overturned on appeal, any discipline ordered pursuant to this section shall automatically cease. This subdivision does not prohibit the office from pursuing disciplinary action based on any cause other than the overturned conviction.

(e) The record of the proceedings resulting in a conviction, including a transcript of the testimony in those proceedings, may be received in evidence.

(f) Any other law setting forth a procedure for the suspension or revocation of a license or certificate issued by the office shall not apply to proceedings conducted pursuant to this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 626, Sec. 4. (AB 1171) Effective January 1, 2022.)