Article 7.5 - Workers’ Compensation Insurance Reports
California Business and Professions Code — §§ 7125-7127
Sections (10)
Repealed and added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 467, Sec. 18. Effective January 1, 1996.
(a)The registrar shall accept a certificate required by Section 7125 as of the effective date shown on the certificate, if the certificate is received by the registrar within 90 days after that date, and shall reinstate the license to which the certificate pertains, if otherwise eligible, retroactive to the effective date of the certificate.
(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the registrar shall accept the certificate as of the effective date shown on the certificate, even if the certificate is not received by the registrar within 90 days after that date, upon a showing by the licensee, on a form acceptable to the registrar, that the failure to have a certificate on file was due to circumstances beyond the control of the licensee. The registrar shall reinstate the license to which the certificate pertains, if otherwise eligible, retroactive to the effective date of the certificate.
Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 311, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2003.
The failure of a licensee to obtain or maintain workers’ compensation insurance coverage, if required under this chapter, shall result in the automatic suspension of the license by operation of law in accordance with the provisions of this section, but this suspension shall not affect, alter, or limit the status of the licensee as an employer for purposes of Section 3716 of the Labor Code.
(a)The license suspension imposed by this section is effective upon the earlier of either of the following:
(1)On the date that the relevant workers’ compensation insurance coverage lapses.
(2)On the date that workers’ compensation coverage is required to be obtained.
(b)A licensee who is subject to suspension under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall be provided a notice by the registrar that includes all of the following:
(1)The reason for the license suspension and the effective date.
(2)A statement informing the licensee that a pending suspension will be posted to the license record for not more than 45 days prior to the posting of any license suspension periods required under this article.
(3)The procedures required to reinstate the license.
(c)Reinstatement may be made at any time following the suspension by showing proof of compliance as specified in Sections 7125 and 7125.1.
(d)In addition, with respect to an unlicensed individual acting in the capacity of a contractor who is not otherwise exempted from the provisions of this chapter, a citation may be issued by the registrar under Section 7028.7 for failure to comply with this article and to maintain workers’ compensation insurance. An opportunity for a hearing as specified in Section 7028.10 will be granted if requested within 15 working days after service of the citation.
Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 311, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2003.
A contractor shall be considered duly licensed during all periods in which the registrar is required to accept the certificate prescribed by Section 7125, provided the licensee has otherwise complied with the provisions of this chapter.
Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 455, Sec. 3. (SB 291) Effective January 1, 2026.
(a)The filing of the exemption certificate prescribed by this article that is false, or the employment of a person subject to coverage under the workers’ compensation laws after the filing of an exemption certificate without first filing a Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance or Certification of Self-Insurance in accordance with the provisions of this article, or the employment of a person subject to coverage under the workers’ compensation laws without maintaining coverage for that person, constitutes cause for disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, the following civil penalties:
(1)A minimum civil penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per violation for any sole owner licensee found to have employed workers without maintaining workers’
compensation coverage.
(2)A minimum civil penalty of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) per violation for any partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or tribal business licensee found to have employed workers without maintaining workers’ compensation coverage.
(3)Additional civil penalties for any subsequent violations, not to exceed a total of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) per occurrence.
(b)Any qualifier for a license who, under Section 7068.1, is responsible for assuring that a licensee complies with the provisions of this chapter is also guilty of a misdemeanor for committing or failing to prevent the commission of any of the acts that are cause for disciplinary action under this section.
(c)The board shall not renew or reinstate
a license in violation of this section until the applicant or licensee provides the board with a current and valid Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance or Certification of Self-Insurance in the applicant’s or licensee’s business name.
Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 546, Sec. 1. (AB 397) Effective January 1, 2012.
(a)At the time of renewal, all active licensees with an exemption for workers’ compensation insurance on file with the board, submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 7125, shall either recertify the licensee’s exemption by completing a recertification statement on the license renewal form, as provided by the board, or shall provide a current and valid Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance or Certificate of Self-Insurance, whichever is applicable.
(b)The license shall not be renewed unless a licensee with an exemption for workers’ compensation insurance on file with the board recertifies the exemption status or provides a current and valid Certificate of Workers’ Compensation
Insurance or Certificate of Self-Insurance in conjunction with the license renewal.
(c)If the documentation required by subdivision (a) is not provided with the license renewal but is received within 30 days after notification by the board of the renewal rejection, the registrar shall grant a retroactive renewal pursuant to Section 7141.5 back to the date of the postmark of the otherwise acceptable renewal. A renewal that is still incomplete for any reason after 30 days after notification of rejection shall not be eligible for retroactive renewal under this subdivision.
Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 80, Sec. 10. (SB 1525) Effective January 1, 2025.
(a)(1) At the time of renewal, all active licensees who have on file a current and valid Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance or Certification of Self-Insurance, or who are required to provide those certificates pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 7125, shall certify on the license renewal form for the three workers’ compensation classification codes for which the highest estimated payroll is reported on the policy. If the licensee has fewer than three classification codes reported on the policy, the licensee shall provide every classification code reported on the policy.
(2)The board shall not be required to verify or investigate the accuracy
of the licensee’s classification code or codes provided by the licensee pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3)The board shall not be held liable for any classification code or codes misreported by a licensee.
(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a license shall not be renewed unless the licensee complies with this section.
(2)If the documentation and information required by subdivision (a) is not provided with the license renewal form but is received within 30 days after notification by the board of the renewal rejection, the registrar shall grant a retroactive renewal pursuant to Section 7141.5 back to the date of the postmark of the otherwise acceptable renewal. A renewal that is still incomplete
for any reason more than 30 days after notification of rejection shall not be eligible for retroactive renewal under this subdivision.
(c)When the board updates the public license detail on its internet website for an active renewal submitted by a licensee pursuant to this section, the update shall include the classification code or codes certified by the licensee pursuant to subdivision (a).
(d)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2024.
Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 455, Sec. 4. (SB 291) Effective January 1, 2026.
(a)By no later than January 1, 2027, the board shall establish a process and procedure, which shall include an audit, proof, or other means to obtain evidence to verify that an applicant or licensee without an employee or employees is eligible for exemption from the workers’ compensation insurance requirement pursuant to Section 7125. The board shall report its proposed verification process to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2027.
(b)(1) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under subdivision (a) is inoperative on January 1, 2030, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
(2)A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall
be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 323, Sec. 1. (AB 2705) Effective January 1, 2019.
(a)Any licensee or agent or officer thereof, who violates, or omits to comply with, any of the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b)Any person not licensed in accordance with this chapter who is acting as a contractor and who violates, or omits to comply with, Section
3700 of the Labor Code is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(c)Prosecution of any offense under this section shall be commenced within two years after commission of the offense as provided in Section 802 of the Penal Code.
Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 643, Sec. 1. (SB 1254) Effective January 1, 2011.
(a)(1) If an employer subject to licensure under this chapter has failed to secure the payment of compensation as required by Section 3700 of the Labor Code, and whether that employer is or is not licensed under this chapter, the registrar may, in addition to any other administrative remedy, issue and serve on that employer a stop order prohibiting the use of employee labor. The stop order shall become effective immediately upon service. An employee affected by the work stoppage shall be paid by the employer for his or her time lost, not exceeding 10 days, pending compliance by the employer.
(2)Failure of any employer, officer, or any person having direction, management, or control
of any place of employment or of employees to observe a stop order issued and served upon him or her pursuant to this section is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 60 days or by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
(b)An employer who is subject to this section may protest the stop order by making and filing with the registrar a written request for a hearing within 20 days after service of the stop order. The hearing shall be held within five days from the date of filing the request. The registrar shall notify the employer of the time and place of the hearing by mail. At the conclusion of the hearing, the stop order shall be immediately affirmed or dismissed, and within 24 hours thereafter the registrar shall issue and serve on all parties to the hearing by registered or certified mail a written notice of findings and findings. A writ of mandate may be taken from the findings to
the appropriate superior court. Such writ must be taken within 45 days after the mailing of the notice of findings and findings.