Contractors' State License Law: letter of admonishment.

(1) Existing law, the Contractors' State License Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of contractors by the Contractors' State License Board. Existing law also provides for the registration and regulation of home improvement salespersons by the board. Existing law requires the board to appoint a registrar of contractors who is the executive officer and secretary of the board and is responsible for carrying out specified administrative duties. If, upon investigation, the registrar has probable cause to believe that a licensee or an applicant for a license under existing law has committed any acts or omissions that are grounds for denial, revocation, or suspension of license, he or she, in lieu of a specified proceeding, may issue a citation to the licensee or applicant. This bill would authorize the registrar to issue a written and detailed letter of admonishment to an applicant, licensee, or registrant instead of issuing a citation if, upon investigation, the registrar has probable cause to believe that a licensee, registrant, or applicant has committed acts or omissions that are grounds for denial, suspension, or revocation of a license or registration. The bill would require the letter to inform the applicant, licensee, or registrant that he or she may submit a written request for an office conference to contest the letter of admonishment, subject to specified procedures, including a process to appeal a decision, or comply with the letter, as provided. The bill would prohibit the board from issuing a letter of admonishment when specified factors are present. The bill would authorize the board to adopt regulations to further define the circumstances under which a letter of admonishment may be issued. Existing law requires the registrar to make available to members of the public the date, nature, and status of all complaints on file against a licensee that meet specific qualifications. Under existing law, complaints resolved in favor of the contractor are not subject to disclosure. The bill would distinguish a letter of admonishment from a complaint resolved in favor of the contractor and would require a letter of admonishment to be disclosed for a year. (2) Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.