(a) The application for a certificate as a broker-dealer shall be accompanied by the consent to service of process specified in Section 25240 and, unless filed pursuant to subdivision (b), shall contain such information in such detail relating to the applicant and any persons associated with him or her as the commissioner may by rule require.

(b) A broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 who is a member of the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex, the NYSE Arca, or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and who has not had any certificate as a broker-dealer, investment adviser or agent denied or revoked under this law or any predecessor statute, may be licensed by notification pursuant to this subdivision by filing with the commissioner an application setting forth the following information in such form and detail as the commissioner may by rule require:

(1) Such information as is necessary to identify the broker-dealer and its offices in this state, and the location of its records and principal office.

(2) Such information as is necessary to establish that the broker-dealer meets the requirements for licensure by notification under this subdivision.

(3) The consent to service of process specified in Section 25240.

(4) Such information as the commissioner may require as to the jurisdictions in which the broker-dealer is licensed or registered and as to the nature of the business conducted by the broker-dealer.

(c)  Unless a proceeding has been instituted under Section 25212, a certificate under subdivision (b) shall become effective on the third business day after the application is filed with the commissioner or upon the day the certificate is issued, whichever first occurs. However, the commissioner may by order delay effectiveness for a period not exceeding 15 business days (or for an additional period with the consent of the applicant) if the commissioner believes that the delay is necessary in the public interest to determine if a proceeding should be instituted under Section 25212. The commissioner may by rule or order waive that provision of subdivision (b) which precludes application thereunder by a person who has had a certificate denied or revoked under this law or any predecessor statute if the commissioner finds the waiver to be in the public interest. The commissioner, after appropriate notice and opportunity for hearing in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, may by rule or order disqualify a self-regulatory organization specified in subdivision (b) from the provisions thereof. The commissioner may by rule establish standards or criteria pursuant to which disqualification may be made and he or she may disqualify upon a finding that the self-regulatory organization fails substantially to comply with those standards or criteria. Disqualification by the commissioner shall not affect a certificate which has become effective pursuant to this subdivision prior to the effective date of that rule or order of disqualification but each person licensed pursuant to subdivision (b) upon the basis of membership in that organization shall, within 90 days after the effective date of that rule or order, or such additional time as the commissioner may allow, file with the commissioner a complete and current application in the form required pursuant to subdivision (a). If a broker-dealer licensed pursuant to subdivision (b) ceases to meet the qualifications for licensing pursuant to that subdivision, he or she shall, within 10 days after that event, file with the commissioner a complete and current application in the form required pursuant to subdivision (a).

(d) An application for a certificate as a broker-dealer, with respect to a broker-dealer to be formed or organized, may be made by a licensed broker-dealer to which the broker-dealer to be formed or organized is to be the successor. The application shall contain such information in such detail relating to the applicant and to the successor and any person associated with the applicant or the successor as the commissioner may by rule require. The application shall become effective and the successor may transact business as a broker-dealer 30 days after the receipt of the application by the commissioner or within such shorter period of time as the commissioner may determine, unless an order has been entered under Section 25212 denying a certificate to the successor or a proceeding looking toward an order has been instituted under that section. The certificate shall terminate on the 45th day after the effective date thereof, unless prior thereto the successor shall, in accordance with such rules as the commissioner may prescribe, adopt the application as its own and file the consent to service of process specified in Section 25240.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 131, Sec. 12. (AB 991) Effective January 1, 2010.)