(a) Any person not previously issued a certificate must, upon employment with an escrow agent within this state, apply to Fidelity Corporation for a certificate. The member shall submit all applications for certificates to Fidelity Corporation within 10 business days of the date of employment. The person may continue employment until or unless denied a certificate by Fidelity Corporation.

(b) Upon written notice by Fidelity Corporation to any or all members that any person has been denied a certificate, or has had a certificate suspended, canceled, or revoked, no member or person acting on behalf of a member shall authorize that person to have access to money or negotiable securities belonging to or in the possession of the escrow agent, or to draw checks upon the escrow agent or the trust accounts of the escrow agent. Any member or person who commits or who causes a violation of this section, which violation was either known or should have been known by the member or the person committing or causing the violation, may be subject to action by the commissioner and Fidelity Corporation as provided for in this division.

(c) Each member and each person required to have a certificate shall comply with the Fidelity Corporation rules, to be approved by the commissioner, concerning the manner and timing within which Fidelity Corporation shall receive notice of employment, change of the person’s name, mailing address, or employment status, the certificate form, and the procedures for the administration thereof. Fidelity Corporation may collect a fee to cover the cost of processing the notices but no fee shall exceed twenty-five dollars ($25).

(d) Fidelity Corporation shall assess the member a penalty at the rate of twenty-five dollars ($25) for every day that the member has not fully complied with this section, Section 17331, or Section 17331.2.

(e) Any member that suffers a loss of trust obligations caused by any person who is required to have a certificate but has (1) failed to apply for a certificate, (2) has had the application for a certificate denied, (3) has a suspended certificate, or (4) whose certificate has been revoked shall be obligated to pay a deductible in the amount of 100 percent of the amount of the loss, notwithstanding the amount of the statutory deductible as prescribed by Section 17314.3. The failure to obtain a certificate, the denial of an application for a certificate, or the suspension, cancellation, or revocation of a certificate shall not limit the obligation of Fidelity Corporation to indemnify a member against loss of trust obligations as defined in this division.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 180, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2005.)