(a) A real estate broker who acts pursuant to Section 10131.1 or subdivision (d) or (e) of Section 10131, and who makes, arranges, or services loans secured by real property containing one to four residential units, and any salesperson who acts in a similar capacity under the supervision of that broker, shall notify the department by January 31, 2010, or within 30 days of commencing that activity, whichever is later. The notification shall be made in writing, as directed, on a form that is acceptable to the commissioner.

(b) No individual may engage in business as a mortgage loan originator under this article without first doing both of the following:

(1) Obtaining and maintaining a real estate license pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 10150).

(2) Obtaining and maintaining a real estate license endorsement pursuant to this article identifying that individual as a licensed mortgage loan originator.

(c) License endorsements shall be valid for a period of one year and shall expire on the 31st of December each year.

(d) Applicants for a mortgage loan originator license endorsement shall apply in a form prescribed by the commissioner. Each form shall contain content as set forth by rule, regulation, instruction, or procedure of the commissioner.

(e) In order to fulfill the purposes of this article, the commissioner may establish relationships or contracts with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry or other entities designated by the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry to collect and maintain records and process transaction fees or other fees related to licensees or other persons subject to this article.

(f) A real estate broker or salesperson who fails to notify the department pursuant to subdivision (a), or who fails to obtain a license endorsement required pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), shall be assessed a penalty of fifty dollars ($50) per day for each day written notification has not been received or a license endorsement has not been obtained, up to and including the 30th day after the first day of the assessment penalty. On and after the 31st day, the penalty is one hundred dollars ($100) per day, not to exceed a total penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), regardless of the number of days, until the department receives the written notification or the licensee obtains the license endorsement. Penalties for violations of subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be additive.

(g) The commissioner may suspend or revoke the license of a real estate broker or salesperson who fails to pay a penalty imposed pursuant to this section. In addition, the commissioner may bring an action in an appropriate court of this state to collect payment of that penalty.

(h) All penalties paid or collected under this section shall be deposited into the Consumer Recovery Account of the Real Estate Fund and shall, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be available for expenditure for the purposes specified in Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 10470).

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 712, Sec. 7. (SB 706) Effective January 1, 2012.)