(a)  The program may deny a nursing home administrator applicant or licensee, a license, based on one of the following grounds:

(1)  Conviction 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. The program may take action following the establishment of a conviction after 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 Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code.

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

(3)  Commits any act which, if done by a licentiate, would be grounds for suspension or revocation of license. The program may deny a license pursuant to this subdivision only if the crime or act is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a nursing home administrator.

(b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no person shall be denied a license solely on the basis that he or she has been convicted of a felony if he or she has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation under Section 4852.01 of the Penal Code, or that he or she has been convicted of a misdemeanor and has met all applicable requirements of the criteria of rehabilitation developed by the program pursuant to subdivision (f).

(c)  The program may deny a nursing home administrator license on the ground that the applicant knowingly made a false statement of fact required to be revealed in the application for the license.

(d)  The program may suspend or revoke a license on the ground that the applicant or licensee has been convicted of a crime, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), if the crime is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a nursing home administrator.

(e)  The program shall develop criteria to use to determine whether a crime or act is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a nursing home administrator, and shall use the criteria when considering the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license.

(f)  The program shall develop criteria to be used by the program to evaluate the rehabilitation of a person when considering the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license under this section.

(g)  The program shall take into account all competent evidence of rehabilitation furnished by the applicant or licensee pursuant to the evaluation process set forth in subdivision (f).

(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 687, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2002.)