§ 13691. Appeal of Citation for Failure to Register.

(a) If an employer served with a citation pursuant to Labor Code Section 2064 desires to contest the citation or the proposed assessment of the civil fine therefore, he, she, or it must, within 15 business days after issuance of the citation, notify in writing the office of the Labor Commissioner that appears on the citation of his, her, or its request for an informal hearing. The proceeding under this section is an informal hearing conducted in accordance with the adjudication provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, Chapters 4.5 and 5 (commencing with Section 11400) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Except as provided in subdivision (b) of this section, the Labor Commissioner, or the deputy or agent he or she appoints as the presiding officer, shall, within 30 calendar days after the Labor Commissioner's receipt of the employer's request for an informal hearing, hold a hearing at the conclusion of which a decision is made and the citation or proposed assessment of a civil fine is either affirmed, modified, or dismissed. The decision of the Labor Commissioner consists of a notice of findings, findings, and order, which shall be served on all parties to the hearing within 15 calendar days after the hearing by regular first-class mail at the last known address of the party on file with the Labor Commissioner. Service shall be completed pursuant to Section 1013 of the California Code of Civil Procedure. Any amount found due by the Labor Commissioner as a result of a hearing is due and payable 45 calendar days after notice of the findings and written findings and order have been mailed to the party assessed. A party who is assessed a fine may take a writ of mandate from the findings to the appropriate superior court, as long as he, she, or it agrees to pay any judgment and costs ultimately rendered by the court against him, her, or it for the assessment. To take a writ of mandate, an aggrieved party shall file the writ within 45 calendar days after service of the notice of findings, findings, and order thereon.

(b) The Labor Commissioner or presiding officer for good cause may extend the 30-calendar day period for holding a hearing described in subdivision (a) of this section. “Good cause” is determined by the Labor Commissioner or presiding deputy.

(c) If findings and the order thereon affirm or modify a citation or the proposed assessment of a civil fine after hearing, a certified copy of the findings and the order may be entered by the Labor Commissioner in the office of the clerk of the superior court in any county in which the employer has property, or in which he, she, or it has or had a place of business. The clerk, immediately upon the filing, shall enter judgment for the state against the employer in the amount shown on the certified order.

(d) A judgment entered pursuant to the procedure described in either subdivision (c) or (i) of this section bears the same rate of interest and has the same effect as other judgments, and is given the same preference allowed by the law on other judgments rendered for claims for taxes.

(e) A cited employer who appeals his, her, or its citation to the Labor Commissioner and fails to appear at the time and place of the hearing is deemed to have withdrawn his, her, or its appeal, and the citation constitutes a final order of the Labor Commissioner and is not subject to administrative review.

(f) Submittal of a written request by an employer for an informal hearing as provided in subdivision (a) of this section stays the time period in which to pay the fine.

(g) If the written request for an informal hearing as provided in subdivision (a) of this section is not submitted in writing to the Labor Commissioner within 15 business days after issuance of a citation, the cited employer is deemed to have waived his, her, or its right to a hearing.

(h) In lieu of contesting a citation, a cited employer may, within 15 business days after issuance of a citation, transmit to the office of the Labor Commissioner designated on the citation, the amount specified for the violation.

(i) If a cited employer does not request a hearing in accordance with subdivision (a) of this section, the Labor Commissioner may file a certified copy of the citation or proposed assessment of civil fine in the office of the clerk of the superior court in any county in which the employer has property, or in which he, she, or it has or had a place of business. The clerk, immediately upon the filing shall enter judgment for the state against the employer in the amount shown on the citation or proposed assessment of civil fine.

HISTORY

1. New section filed 11-22-2005; operative 12-22-2005 (Register 2005, No. 47).

Note

Note: Authority cited: Sections 55, 59, 95 and 98.8, Labor Code; and Sections 11400.20, 11410.10, 11410.40, 11415.10(a), 11445.10(a) and 11445.20(c) and (d), Government Code. Reference: Sections 226.5 and 2064, Labor Code.