(a) The bureau shall adopt, and may from time to time amend, rules and regulations prescribing standards of knowledge and experience and financial responsibility for applicants for certificates of authority. In reviewing an application for a certificate of authority, the bureau may consider acts of incorporators, officers, directors, and stockholders of the applicant, which shall constitute grounds for the denial of a certificate of authority under Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475).

(b) Upon receipt of an application for a certificate of authority, the bureau may cause an investigation to be made of the physical status, plans, specifications, and financing of the proposed cemetery, and any other qualifications required of the applicant under this act, and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and take testimony.

(c) At the time of the filing of the application required by this section, the applicant shall pay to the Cemetery and Funeral Fund the sum of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) to defray the expenses of investigation. In the event the sum shall be insufficient to defray all of the expenses, the applicant shall, within five days after request, deposit an additional sum sufficient to defray those expenses, provided that the total sum shall not exceed nine hundred dollars ($900).

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 625, Sec. 44. (SB 1443) Effective January 1, 2023.)