(a) The director may deny a license, certificate, or registration regulated by this chapter on the grounds that the applicant has done any of the following:

(1) Knowingly made a false statement of fact required to be revealed in the application for a license.

(2) Been convicted of a crime. A conviction within the meaning of this section means a plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere. Any action which the bureau is permitted to take following the establishment of a conviction may be taken when the time for appeal has elapsed, or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal, or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, irrespective of a subsequent order under the provisions of Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code.

(3) Done any act involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit with the intent to substantially benefit himself, herself, or another, or to substantially injure another.

(4) Done any act which if done by a licensee would be grounds for suspension or revocation of a license.

(5) Done any act without a license for which a license is required under this chapter.

(6) Been refused a license under this chapter or had a license revoked.

(7) Been an officer, partner, member, manager, or qualified manager of any person who has been refused a license under this chapter or whose license has been suspended or revoked.

The bureau may deny a license, certificate, or registration pursuant to this section only if the crime or act is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the license, certificate, or registration for which application has been made.

The denial of a license, certificate, or registration shall be in writing and shall describe the basis for the denial. The denial shall inform the applicant that if he or she desires a review by the disciplinary review committee the review shall be requested within 30 days of the issuance of the denial. A review shall be held pursuant to the provisions of Section 7591.19.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no person shall be denied a license, certificate, or registration solely on the basis that he or she has been convicted of a felony, if he or she has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, or solely on the basis that he or she has been convicted of a misdemeanor, if he or she has met all applicable requirements of the criteria of rehabilitation as provided in Section 7591.12.

(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 140, Sec. 3) by Stats. 2018, Ch. 406, Sec. 8. (SB 904) Effective January 1, 2019.)