(a) If the State Fire Marshal or his or her designee determines that the public interest and public welfare will be adequately served by permitting a person licensed under this chapter to pay a monetary penalty to the State Fire Marshal in lieu of an actual license suspension, the State Fire Marshal or his or her designee may stay the execution of all or part of the suspension if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The violation that is the cause for the suspension did not pose, or have the potential to pose, a significant threat or risk of harm to the public.

(2) The licensee pays a monetary penalty.

(3) The licensee does not incur any other cause for disciplinary action within a period of time specified by the State Fire Marshal or his or her designee.

In making the determination, the State Fire Marshal or his or her designee shall consider the seriousness of the violation, the violator’s record of compliance with the law, the impact of the determination on the licensee, the licensee’s employees or customers, and other relevant factors.

(b) The State Fire Marshal or his or her designee may exercise the discretion granted under this section either with respect to a suspension ordered by a decision after a contested hearing on an accusation against the licensee or by stipulation with the licensee after the filing of an accusation, but prior to the rendering of a decision based upon the accusation. In either case, the terms and conditions of the disciplinary action against the licensee shall be made part of a formal decision of the State Fire Marshal or his or her designee.

(c) If a licensee fails to pay the monetary penalty in accordance with the terms and conditions of the decision of the State Fire Marshal or his or her designee, the State Fire Marshal or his or her designee may, without a hearing, order the immediate execution of all or any part of the stayed suspension in which event the licensee shall not be entitled to any repayment nor credit, prorated or otherwise, for money paid to the State Fire Marshal under the terms of the decision.

(d) The amount of the monetary penalty payable under this section shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each day of suspension stayed nor a total of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per decision regardless of the number of days of suspension stayed under the decision.

(e) Any monetary penalty received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the State Fire Marshal Licensing and Certification Fund.

(f) On or before March 1 of each year, the State Fire Marshal shall make available to the public data showing the percentage of enforcement actions taken that resulted in license suspension or the assessment of monetary penalties pursuant to this section.

(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 161, Sec. 3. (AB 1773) Effective January 1, 2011.)