(a) If the commissioner, as a result of any examination or from any report made to the commissioner, shall find that any person subject to this division is in an insolvent condition, is conducting or has conducted escrow business in such an unsafe or injurious manner as to render further operations hazardous to the public or to customers, is failing or has failed to comply with the provisions of Section 17212.1 or 17414.1, is permitting or has permitted its tangible net worth to be lower than the minimum required by law, is failing or has failed to maintain its liquid assets in excess of current liabilities as set forth in Section 17210, or is failing or has failed to comply with the bonding requirements of Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 17200) of this division, the commissioner may, by an order addressed to and served by registered or certified mail or by personal service on such person and on any other person having in their possession or control any escrowed funds, trust funds, or other property deposited in escrow with said person, direct discontinuance of the disbursement of trust funds by the parties or any of them, the receipt of trust funds, the delivery or recording of documents received in escrow, or other business operations. No person having in their possession any of these funds or documents shall be liable for failure to comply with the order unless they received written notice of the order. Subject to subdivision (b), the order shall remain in effect until set aside by the commissioner in whole or in part, the person is the subject of an order for relief in bankruptcy, or pursuant to Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 17621) of this division the commissioner has assumed possession of the escrow agent.

(b) Within 15 days from the date of an order pursuant to subdivision (a), the person may request a hearing under the Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Upon receipt of a request, the matter shall be set for hearing to commence within 30 days after such receipt unless the person subject to this division consents to a later date. If no hearing is requested within 15 days after the mailing or service of such notice and none is ordered by the commissioner, the failure to request a hearing shall constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing. Neither the request for a hearing nor the hearing itself shall stay the order issued by the commissioner under subdivision (a).

Terms Used In California Financial Code 17415

  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • escrow agent: as used in this division includes joint control agents and Internet escrow agents. See California Financial Code 17005.6
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Person: includes any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, limited liability company, syndicate, estate, trust, business trust, or organization of any kind. See California Financial Code 18

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 188, Sec. 9. (AB 2433) Effective January 1, 2023.)