(a) If the commissioner finds, as a result of any examination or investigation or from any report made to the commissioner, that any person subject to this part, other than an investment adviser subject to Section 25230.1, is in an insolvent condition, or is conducting a securities, broker-dealer, or investment advisory business in such an unsafe, injurious, or unauthorized manner as to render further operations hazardous to the public or to customers, the commissioner may, by an order addressed to and served by registered or certified mail or by personal service on that person and on any other person having in his or her possession or control any client funds, trust funds, or other property deposited with that person, direct discontinuance of the disbursement of client or trust funds by the parties or any of them, the receipt of client or trust funds, or other business operations. No person having in his or her possession any of these funds shall be liable for failure to comply with the order unless he or she has received written notice of the order. Subject to subdivision (b), the order shall remain in effect until set aside by the commissioner, in whole or in part, the person is the subject of an order for relief in bankruptcy, or pursuant to Section 25253, the commissioner has assumed possession of the broker-dealer or investment adviser.

(b) Within 15 days from the date of an order pursuant to subdivision (a), the person may request a hearing under the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). Upon receipt of a request, the matter shall be set for hearing to commence within 30 days after that receipt unless the person subject to this division consents to a later date. If no hearing is requested within 15 days after the mailing or service of the notice and none is ordered by the commissioner, the failure to request a hearing shall constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing. Neither the request for a hearing nor the hearing itself shall stay the order issued by the commissioner under subdivision (a).

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 500, Sec. 30. (AB 1059) Effective January 1, 2010.)