(a) On or before the 15th day of March of every year, each industrial loan company shall file with the commissioner an audit report containing audited financial statements together with such other relevant information as the commissioner may require relating to the company and to each place of business of the company. The audited financial statements shall include a balance sheet of the company prepared as of the last day of the preceding calendar year and statements of income and of surplus for such calendar year.

(b) The reports and financial statements referred to in subdivision (a) shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and shall be accompanied by a report, certificate, or opinion of an independent certified public accountant or independent public accountant, and shall contain such relevant information as the commissioner may require. The audits shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and the rules and regulations of the commissioner.

(c) For good cause and upon written request, the commissioner may extend the time for compliance with subdivision (a).

(d) If the report, certificate, or opinion of the independent accountant referred to in subdivision (b) hereof is in any way qualified, the commissioner may require the company to take such action as he or she deems appropriate to permit an independent accountant to remove such qualification from the report, certificate, or opinion.

(e) The commissioner may reject any financial statement, report, certificate, or opinion filed pursuant to this section by notifying the company required to make such filing of its rejection and the cause thereof. Within 30 days after the receipt of such notice, the company shall correct such deficiency, and the failure so to do shall be deemed a violation of this division. The commissioner shall retain a copy of all filings so rejected.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 190, Sec. 42. (AB 1517) Effective January 1, 2016.)