The bureau may suspend or revoke licenses, after proper notice and hearing to the licensee, if the licensee has been found guilty by the bureau of any of the acts or omissions constituting grounds for disciplinary action. The proceedings under this article shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the bureau shall have all the powers granted therein.

All accusations against licensees shall be filed with the bureau within two years after the performance of the act or omission alleged as the ground for disciplinary action; provided, however, that the foregoing provision shall not constitute a defense to an accusation alleging fraud or misrepresentation as a ground for disciplinary action. The cause for disciplinary action in such case shall not be deemed to have accrued until discovery, by the bureau, of the facts constituting the fraud or misrepresentation, and, in such case, the accusation shall be filed within three years after such discovery.

Upon receipt of a complaint, the bureau may make or cause to be made such investigation as it deems necessary.

Notwithstanding any law, in the event of expiration or suspension of a license by operation of law or by order or decision of the director or a court of law, or the voluntary surrender of a license by a cemetery licensee, cemetery owner, cemetery operator, or holder of a cemetery certificate of authority, the director may coordinate and assist with any investigation of or action or criminal proceedings against the cemetery licensee and its officers, agents, or employees that is conducted by another law enforcement entity.

The bureau may discipline every accused licensee whose default has been entered or who has been tried and found guilty, after formal hearing, of any act or omission constituting a ground for disciplinary action.

Any of the following penalties may be imposed by the bureau:

Conviction of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions and duties of the license holder in question constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. The record of conviction, or a certified copy thereof, shall be conclusive evidence of such conviction.

Misrepresentation or fraud in the conduct of the business or the profession of a funeral director or embalmer constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Any false or misleading statement regarding any law or regulation pertaining to the preparation for burial, transportation for burial, or burial of the dead, made wilfully by a licensee to obtain business as a funeral director or embalmer, constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

False or misleading advertising as a funeral establishment, funeral director, or embalmer constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Solicitation, after a death or while a death is impending, of funeral directing or embalming business by the licensee, or by the agents, assistants or employees of the licensee, when such solicitation is authorized or ratified by the licensee, constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. This section does not prohibit general advertising.

Employment by the licensee of persons known as “cappers” or “steerers” or “solicitors,” or other such persons to solicit, after a death or while a death is impending, funeral directing or embalming business constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Employment, directly or indirectly, of any apprentice, agent, assistant, embalmer, employee or other person, on part or full time, or on commission, for the purpose of calling upon individuals or institutions by whose influence human remains may be turned over to a particular funeral director or embalmer constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

The buying, after a death or while a death is impending, of funeral directing and embalming business by the licensee, the licensee’s agents, assistants or employees, or the direct or indirect payment, or offer of payment, of a commission by the licensee, the licensee’s agents, assistants or employees for the purpose of such buying of business, constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Aiding or abetting an unlicensed person to practice funeral directing or embalming constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Using profane, indecent, or obscene language in the course of the preparation for burial, removal, or other disposition of, or during the funeral service for, human remains, or within the immediate hearing of the family or relatives of a deceased, whose remains have not yet been interred or otherwise disposed of constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Solicitation or acceptance by a licensee of any commission or bonus or rebate in consideration of recommending or causing human remains to be disposed of in any crematory, mausoleum or cemetery constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Solicitation or acceptance by a licensee of any commission or bonus or rebate in consideration of recommending or causing the purchase of flowers from any particular florist or dealer in flowers, for use in connection with a funeral service, constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Using any casket or part of a casket which has previously been used as a receptacle for, or in connection with the burial or other disposition of, human remains constitutes a ground for disciplinary action; provided, however, this section shall not apply to exterior casket hardware which is not sold to the purchaser, or where same is reserved by contract.

Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Violation of any state law or municipal or county ordinance or regulation affecting the handling, custody, care or transportation of human remains constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining a license constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Refusing to surrender promptly the custody of human remains, the personal effects, and any certificate or permit required under Division 102 (commencing with Section 102100) of the Health and Safety Code that is in the possession or control of the licensee upon the express order of the person lawfully entitled to custody of the human remains constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

Gross negligence, gross incompetence or unprofessional conduct in the practice of funeral directing or embalming constitutes a ground for disciplinary action.

The bureau, after a hearing, may deny the application of a funeral establishment, funeral director, embalmer, or apprentice embalmer on proof that the applicant has committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of licensure under Section 480. The record of conviction, or a certified copy thereof, shall be conclusive evidence of the conviction.

A plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere is deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of this article. The bureau may order the license suspended or revoked, or may decline to issue a license, when the time for appeal has elapsed, or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, irrespective of a subsequent order under the provisions of Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code allowing such person to withdraw his plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation, information or indictment.

When a funeral establishment, funeral director or embalmer has had his, or her, or its license suspended, canceled, or revoked by the bureau, the bureau, upon written application by the licensee affected, upon not less than 10 days’ notice to all parties of record in the particular case, and after hearing all evidence offered in support of and in opposition to that application, may, in its discretion, and upon those terms as it may deem just, reinstate the applicant.

Unprofessional conduct by any licensee or registrant or by any agent or employee of a licensee or registrant constitutes grounds for disciplinary action. Unprofessional conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:

A renewal cemetery broker’s license is a cemetery license issued to a person who had a cemetery broker’s license unrevoked and unsuspended on June 30 of the fiscal year previous to the fiscal year for which the renewal cemetery license is issued.

An original cemetery salesperson’s license is a cemetery license issued to a person who did not have a cemetery salesperson’s or a broker’s license either individually or as an officer of a corporation, or as a member of a copartnership, on June 30 of the fiscal year previous to the fiscal year for which the salesperson’s license is issued.

A renewal cemetery salesperson’s license is a cemetery license issued to a person who had a cemetery salesperson’s or a broker’s license either individually or as an officer of a corporation, or as a member of a copartnership, on June 30 of the fiscal year previous to the fiscal year for which the salesperson’s license is issued.