The board may upon its own motion, and shall upon verified complaint in writing of any person, investigate the actions of any individual acting as a licensee, or making application for a license.

After a hearing, the board may temporarily suspend or permanently revoke a license issued under this chapter if the holder, while a licensee or applicant, is guilty of or commits any one or more of the acts or omissions constituting grounds for disciplinary action. In addition to its authority to suspend or revoke a license, the board may assess a civil penalty as follows:

If a licensee elects to stipulate to a disciplinary action prior to an administrative hearing, the board may impose a civil penalty, in accordance with this section, in lieu of suspension.

If a proposed stipulation is rejected by the board, it is null and void and does not constitute an admission of any violation charged.

No civil penalty shall be assessed in lieu of any suspension which exceeds 45 days. With the exception of the proceedings on suspensions undertaken or on fines levied pursuant to Section 8617, the proceedings under this article shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the board shall have all the powers granted therein.

In any order of suspension or revocation, the board may authorize the completion of any contract or work contracted for under terms and conditions set forth in the order.

A complaint of any person against a nonlicensee, licensee, or registered company shall be filed with the board no later than two years after the act or omission alleged as the ground for disciplinary action or, in a matter involving fraud, gross negligence, or misrepresentation, no later than four years after commission of the act or omission. The board shall file any accusation no later than 18 months after the complaint has been filed with the board, except that with respect to a violation of Section 8637, the accusation may be filed no later than two years after the discovery by the board of the alleged facts constituting the

fraud or misrepresentation prohibited by the section.

or completion notice or both and an inspection fee of not more than one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) for each property inspected. If a subsequent reinspection is necessary, pursuant to the board’s review of the new original report or notice or both, a commensurate reinspection fee shall also be charged. If the board’s authorized representative makes no determination or determines the property is in compliance, no inspection fee shall be charged.

shall provide a statement of reasons for the denial that does the following:

apply:

copy of the applicant’s written request and a copy of the response sent to the applicant, which shall include the date and the address to which the response was sent.

years.

If the board suspends or revokes an operator’s license and one or more branch offices are registered under the name of the operator, the suspension or revocation may be applied to each branch office.

If the operator is the qualifying manager, a partner, responsible officer, or owner of a registered structural pest control company, the suspension or revocation may be applied to the company registration.

The performance by any partnership, corporation, firm, association, or registered company of any act or omission constituting a cause for disciplinary action, likewise constitutes a cause for disciplinary action against any licensee who, at the time the act or omission occurred, was the qualifying manager, a partner, responsible officer, or owner of the partnership, corporation, firm, association, or registered company whether or not he or she had knowledge of, or participated in, the prohibited act or omission.

The lapsing or suspension of a license or company registration by operation of law or by order or decision of the board or a court of law, or the voluntary surrender of a license or company registration shall not deprive the board of jurisdiction to proceed with any investigation of or action or disciplinary proceeding against such licensee or company, or to render a decision suspending or revoking such license or registration.

The suspension or revocation of a license or a company registration as in this chapter provided may also be ordered in any action otherwise proper in any court involving the licensee’s or a company’s performance of a legal obligation as a licensee or registrant under this chapter.

Departure from, or disregard of, plans or specifications in the performance of structural pest control work in any material respect, without consent of the owner or his duly authorized representative, is a ground for disciplinary action.

Disregard and violation of the buildings laws of the state, or of any of its political subdivisions, or of the safety laws, labor laws, health laws, or compensation insurance laws of the state relating to the practice of structural pest control is a ground for disciplinary action.

Misrepresentation of a material fact by the applicant in obtaining a license or company registration is a ground for disciplinary action.

Failure on the part of a registered company to complete any operation or construction repairs for the price stated in the contract for such operation or construction repairs or in any modification of such contract is a ground for disciplinary action.

Aiding or abetting an unlicensed individual or unregistered company to evade the provisions of this chapter or knowingly combining or conspiring with an unlicensed individual or unregistered company, or allowing one’s license or company registration to be used by an unlicensed individual or unregistered company, or acting as agent or partner or associate, or otherwise, of an unlicensed individual or unregistered company to evade the provisions of this chapter is a ground for disciplinary action.

Payment, or the offer to pay, by any licensee or registered company to any party to a real estate transaction of any commission, bonus, rebate, or other thing of value as compensation or inducement for the referral to such licensee or registered company of pest control work arising out of such transaction is a ground for disciplinary action.

Failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter, or any rule or regulation adopted by the board, or the furnishing of a report of inspection without the making of a bona fide inspection of the premises for wood-destroying pests or organisms, or furnishing a notice of work completed prior to the completion of the work specified in the contract, is a ground for disciplinary action.

The commission of any grossly negligent or fraudulent act by the licensee as a pest control operator, field representative, or applicator or by a registered company is a ground for disciplinary action.

The negligent handling or use of any pesticide is a ground for disciplinary action.

Fraud or misrepresentation, after inspection, by any licensee or registered company engaged in pest control work of any infestation or infection of wood-destroying pests or organisms found in property or structures, or respecting any conditions of the structure that would ordinarily subject structures to attack by wood-destroying pests or organisms, whether or not a report was made pursuant to Sections 8516 and 8517 of this code, is a ground for disciplinary action.

Impersonation of any state, county or city inspector or official is a ground for disciplinary action.

Disregard and violation of pesticide use and application, structural pest control device, fumigation, or extermination laws of the state or of any of its political subdivisions, or regulations adopted pursuant to those laws, is a ground for disciplinary action.