(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the board shall require as a condition precedent to the issuance, reinstatement, reactivation, renewal, or continued maintenance of a license, that the applicant or licensee have on file at all times a current and valid Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance or Certification of Self-Insurance in the applicant’s or licensee’s business name. A Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance shall be issued and filed, electronically or otherwise, by an insurer duly licensed to write workers’ compensation insurance in this state. A Certification of Self-Insurance shall be issued and filed by the Director of Industrial Relations. If reciprocity conditions exist, as provided in § 3600.5 of the Labor Code, the registrar shall require the information deemed necessary to ensure compliance with this section.

(b) This section does not apply to an applicant or licensee who meets both of the following conditions:

(1) Has no employees provided that the applicant or licensee files a statement with the board on a form prescribed by the registrar before the issuance, reinstatement, reactivation, or continued maintenance of a license, certifying that the applicant or licensee does not employ any person in any manner so as to become subject to the workers’ compensation laws of California or is not otherwise required to provide for workers’ compensation insurance coverage under California law.

(2) Does not hold a C-8 license, as defined in Section 832.08 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, a C-20 license, as defined in Section 832.20 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, a C-22 license, as defined in Section 832.22 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, a C-39 license, as defined in Section 832.39 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, or a D-49 license, a subcategory of a C-61 license, as defined in Section 832.61 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.

(c) This section does not apply to an applicant or licensee organized as a joint venture pursuant to Section 7029 that has no employees, provided that the applicant or licensee files the statement prescribed by subparagraph (1) of subdivision (b).

(d) A Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance, Certification of Self-Insurance, or exemption certificate is not required of a holder of a license that has been inactivated on the official records of the board during the period the license is inactive.

(e) (1) The insurer, including the State Compensation Insurance Fund, shall report to the registrar the following information for any policy required under this section: name, license number, policy number, dates that coverage is scheduled to commence and lapse, and cancellation date if applicable.

(2) A workers’ compensation insurer shall also report to the registrar a licensee whose workers’ compensation insurance policy is canceled by the insurer if all of the following conditions are met:

(A) The insurer has completed a premium audit or investigation.

(B) A material misrepresentation has been made by the insured that results in financial harm to the insurer.

(C) No reimbursement has been paid by the insured to the insurer.

(3) Willful or deliberate disregard and violation of workers’ compensation insurance laws constitutes a cause for disciplinary action by the registrar against the licensee.

(f) (1) For any license that, on January 1, 2013, is active and includes a C-39 classification in addition to any other classification, the registrar shall, in lieu of the automatic license suspension otherwise required under this article, remove the C-39 classification from the license unless a valid Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance or Certification of Self-Insurance is received by the registrar.

(2) For any licensee whose license, after January 1, 2013, is active and has had the C-39 classification removed as provided in paragraph (1), and who is found by the registrar to have employees and to lack a valid Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance or Certification of Self-Insurance, that license shall be automatically suspended as required under this article.

(g) (1) For any licensee whose license, after July 1, 2023, is active and includes a C-8, C-20, C-22, or D-49 classification, in addition to any other classification, the registrar shall, in lieu of the automatic license suspension otherwise required under this article, remove the C-8, C-20, C-22, or D-49 classification from the license unless a valid Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance or Certification of Self-Insurance is received by the registrar.

(2) For any licensee whose license, after July 1, 2023, is active and has had the C-8, C-20, C-22, or D-49 classification removed, as provided in paragraph (1), and who is found by the registrar to have employees and to lack a valid Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance or Certification of Self-Insurance, that license shall be automatically suspended as required under this article.

(h) The information reported pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) shall be confidential, and shall be exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code).

(i) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2026, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2026, deletes or extends that date.

(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 25) by Stats. 2022, Ch. 978, Sec. 1. (SB 216) Effective January 1, 2023. Repealed as of January 1, 2026, by its own provisions. See later operative version added by Sec. 2 of Stats. 2022, Ch. 978.)