enforce all laws in this part and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 11000) of Part 2 in a manner that achieves the maximum protection for the buyers of real property and those persons dealing with real estate licensees.

Protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the Department of Real Estate in exercising its licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the public shall be paramount.

The commissioner shall be appointed by the Governor.

The commissioner shall have been for five years a real estate broker actively engaged in business as such in California, or shall possess related experience associated with real estate activity in California for five years within the last 10 years.

The commissioner shall receive an annual salary as provided in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 11550) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to be paid monthly out of the State Treasury upon a warrant of the Controller, and shall be allowed his or her actual and necessary expenses in the discharge of his or her duties.

The commissioner shall enforce the provisions of this part and of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 11000) of Part 2. The commissioner has full power to regulate and control the issuance and revocation, both temporary and permanent, of all licenses to be issued under the provisions of this part, and to perform all other acts and duties provided in this part and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 11000) of Part 2 and necessary for their enforcement.

The commissioner shall employ deputies, clerks, and employees as needed to discharge in the proper manner the duties imposed upon the commissioner by law.

include, access to criminal offender record information to include a provision requiring the contractor to agree to perform criminal background checks on its employees and subcontractors who will have access to information described in subdivision (a) as part of their services contract, interagency agreement, or public entity agreement with the department.

record information” means the same as defined in Section 11075 of the Penal Code.

After qualifying as such neither the commissioner nor any of the deputies, clerks, or employees of the department shall be interested in any mineral, oil, or gas business, mineral, oil, or gas brokerage firm, real estate company or any real estate brokerage firm, as director, stockholder, officer, member, agent or employee, or act as a broker or salesperson, or act as a co-partner or agent for any broker or brokers, or

salesperson or salespersons.

Deputies, clerks and employees shall perform such duties as the commissioner shall assign to them.

Subject to the powers of the State Personnel Board and the Director of Finance, the commissioner shall fix the compensation of such deputies, clerks and employees, which compensation shall be paid monthly on a certificate of the commissioner, and on the warrant of the Controller out of the State Treasury.

Each deputy shall, after his appointment, take and subscribe to the constitutional oath of office and file the same in the office of the Secretary of State.

Each clerk and employee shall take such oaths as may be required by law.

The commissioner shall have his principal office in the City of Sacramento, and may establish branch offices in the City and County of San Francisco, the City of Los Angeles and in such other cities as the commissioner may deem necessary, subject to the approval of the Department of Finance.

brought by or against him or her under or pursuant to any of the provisions of this part or of Chapter 1 of Part 2.

The commissioner may adopt, amend, or repeal rules and regulations that are reasonably necessary for the enforcement of the provisions of this part and of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 11000) of Part 2 of this division. The rules and regulations shall be adopted, amended, or repealed in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act.

In the event the commissioner employs the services of an agency engaged in the business of furnishing credit reports, such agency shall have been engaged in such business continuously in this State for a period of not less than five years prior to the time of such employment.

is required pursuant to Section 10167.2, or that a licensee is violating or has violated any provision of this division or any rule or order thereunder, the commissioner or his or her designated representative may issue a citation to that person in writing, describing with particularity the basis of the citation. Each citation may contain an order to correct the violation or violations identified and a reasonable time period or periods by which the violation or violations must be corrected. In addition, each citation may assess an administrative fine not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), which shall be deposited into the Recovery Account of the Real Estate Fund and shall, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be available for expenditure for the purposes specified in Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 10470). In assessing a fine, the commissioner shall give due consideration to the appropriateness of the amount of the fine with respect to factors such as the gravity of the violation,

the good faith of the person cited, and the history of previous violations. A citation issued and a fine assessed pursuant to this section, while constituting discipline for a violation of the law, shall be in lieu of other administrative discipline by the commissioner for the offense or offenses cited, and the citation against and payment of any fine by a licensee shall not be reported as disciplinary action taken by the commissioner.

final order of the commissioner, shall constitute a sufficient showing to warrant issuing the judgment and order.

In this

action an order or judgment may be entered awarding such preliminary or final injunction as may be proper, but no preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order shall be granted without at least five days’ notice to the defendant.

If the commissioner makes a showing satisfactory to the court that the violations or threatened violations jeopardize funds and properties of others in the custody or under the control of the defendant, the court may appoint a receiver for management of the business of the defendant, including, but not limited to, the funds and properties of others in his or her possession or may make any other order as it deems appropriate to protect and preserve those funds and properties.

The order appointing the receiver shall specify the source of the funds for payment of the fees of the receiver and the costs attributable to administering the receivership. Unless provided for in the order, the

commissioner shall not be liable for payment of the fees or costs.

Whenever the commissioner believes from evidence satisfactory to him or her that any real estate licensee has violated or is about to violate, the provisions of Section 10145, the commissioner may bring an action in the name of the people of the State of California, in the superior court of the State of California, to enjoin the licensee from continuing the violation or engaging therein or doing any act or acts in furtherance thereof.

In the event the commissioner has conducted an audit which reflects commingling or conversion of trust funds in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), the court may enter an

order restraining the licensee from doing any act or acts in furtherance thereof, and from further exercising the privileges of his or her license pending further order of the court, provided that a hearing shall be held on the order within five days after the date thereof.

After such hearing in the manner provided by law, an order may be entered appointing a receiver, or such other order as the court may deem proper. The order appointing the receiver shall specify the source of the funds from which the fees of the receiver and the costs of administering the receivership are to be paid. Unless provided for in the order, the commissioner shall not be liable for payment of the fees or costs.

A receiver appointed by the court pursuant to this section may, with the approval of the court, exercise all of the powers of the licensee or its officers, directors, partners, trustees, or persons who exercise similar powers and perform

similar duties, including the filing of a petition for bankruptcy of the licensee.

The commissioner may publish or cause to be published at appropriate intervals a directory or list of licensed brokers and salespersons and may publish therewith any matter as the commissioner may deem pertinent to this part and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 11000) of Part 2. The commissioner shall furnish one copy of the directory to each licensed broker upon request and payment of an appropriate charge based upon the cost of publication. The directory may contain copies of this part and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 11000) of Part 2 and the rules and regulations of the commissioner.