(a)The director may, following the filing of an accusation against a licensee under this part and prior to conducting a hearing, exercise an option, with the consent of the licensee, to enter into and adopt a stipulated penalty whereby the licensee agrees to accept the terms and conditions of the penalty without hearing or appeal by any party thereto.
(b)Except when the accusation alleges injury to, or fraud against, the public or the state, the director may, following the filing of an accusation against a licensee or prior to adopting any recommendation resulting from a hearing, exercise an option, with the consent of the licensee, to impose and require the payment of a monetary penalty of a minimum and maximum amount for each violation alleged and stipulated to by the licensee, as esta
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(a)
The director may, following the filing of an accusation against a licensee under this part and prior to conducting a hearing, exercise an option, with the consent of the licensee, to enter into and adopt a stipulated penalty whereby the licensee agrees to accept the terms and conditions of the penalty without hearing or appeal by any party thereto.
(b)
Except when the accusation alleges injury to, or fraud against, the public or the state, the director may, following the filing of an accusation against a licensee or prior to adopting any recommendation resulting from a hearing, exercise an option, with the consent of the licensee, to impose and require the payment of a monetary penalty of a minimum and maximum amount for each violation alleged and stipulated to by the licensee, as established by a schedule under regulations adopted by the department and costs of investigation and prosecution, without further hearing or appeal, and without any other form of penalty against the licensee which may otherwise have been imposed for the same offense or offenses had the matter proceeded to hearing or had the director adopted the decision of the hearing officer.
(c)
If the accusation alleges injury to, or fraud against, an individual purchaser or potential purchaser, the director may enter into an agreement pursuant to subdivision (b), but such a compromise and settlement shall include, in addition to the monetary penalty set forth by regulation, compensation for the injury or fraud, including all costs of investigation and prosecution.
(d)
Each compromise settlement agreement and each monetary penalty agreement entered into pursuant to this section shall be signed by the respondent licensee, the director, and the accuser, or by their authorized representatives, and filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings, together with the department’s notice of withdrawal of the accusation upon which the action was initiated if the compromise settlement agreement or monetary payment agreement is entered into before the hearing.
(e)
Failure of the respondent to honor the terms and conditions of any agreement entered into under this section shall render the agreement null and void, and shall be cause for action pursuant to Section 18058 in the same manner as the department may have otherwise proceeded, notwithstanding the agreement.
(f)
The amount of the penalty provided for in subdivision (b) shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500) per violation and shall be based upon the nature of the violation and the seriousness of the violation against the purposes and provisions of this part.