(a) Upon reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard, the commissioner may deny an application for any of the following reasons:

(1) A false statement of a material fact has been made in the application.

(2) Any officer, director, general partner, or person owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interests or equity securities of the applicant has, within the last 10 years, (A) been convicted of, or pleaded nolo contendere to, a crime or (B) committed any act involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit, if the crime or act is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a person engaged in business in accordance with this division.

(3) The applicant or any officer, director, general partner, or person owning or controlling, directly or indirectly, 10 percent or more of the outstanding interests or equity securities of the applicant, has violated any provision of this division or the rules thereunder or any similar regulatory scheme of the State of California or a foreign jurisdiction.

(4) The applicant employs a mortgage loan originator who is not licensed in this state, unless the mortgage loan originator is exempt from licensure.

(b) The application shall be considered withdrawn within the meaning of this section if the applicant fails to respond to a written notification of a deficiency in the application within 90 days of the date of the notification.

(c) The commissioner shall, within 60 days from the filing of a full and complete application for a license, including the receipt of background and investigative reports from the Department of Justice or other government agencies, and the payment of the fees required by Section 50121, issue either a residential mortgage lender or servicer license or a statement of issues prepared in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 160, Sec. 56. (SB 36) Effective October 11, 2009.)