(a) Licenses shall be issued only to applicants who are blind within the meaning of Section 19153 and who are qualified to operate vending facilities. The continuing eligibility of a vendor as a blind person shall be reviewed biennially for partially sighted individuals and whenever the department has reason to believe a vendor’s status as a blind person no longer fits the definition set forth in Section 19153.

(b) The director, in consultation with the committee of licensed blind vendors and the Program Manager of the Services for the Blind, shall adopt and publish regulations providing for all of the following:

(1) The requirements for licensure as a blind vendor.

(2) A curriculum for training and inservice training of blind vendors.

(3) A regular schedule for offering the training and inservice training classes. The classes shall be offered at least once per year, in at least two locations throughout the state.

(c) The person, governing board, or legislative body having the care, custody, and control of the building in which a vending facility is operated pursuant to this article, has the power to approve, disapprove, or withdraw approval of the person operating a vending facility, but only for good cause. Good cause shall be determined only after the person, governing board, or legislative body having control of the vending facility has notified the department in writing of the grounds for removal and has supplied any supporting material. All of the following shall apply to any disapproval or withdrawal of approval:

(1) Upon receipt of a written notification, the department shall issue a letter of reprimand to the vendor which shall include a copy of the original notification and any supporting material. The letter of reprimand shall also state the date of removal and the vendor’s right to appeal the decision of the director to remove, suspend, or terminate the vendor from participation in the Business Enterprises Program. The letter of reprimand shall be sent by certified mail with a receipt confirmation required.

(2) Upon receipt of the letter of reprimand, the vendor shall have 15 regular working days to remedy the reasons for the complaint stated in the written notification. If the condition has not been rectified to the satisfaction of the person, governing board, or legislative body having control of the vending facility, that party shall notify the director, and the vendor shall be informed by the director and shall immediately vacate the premises.

(3) The department shall make all reasonable efforts, as appropriate, to assist the vendor in rectifying the condition or reason for the complaint stated in the written notification to the department during the 15-day probation period.

(4) The department may not orally, in writing, or by any other form of communication, instigate, initiate, or encourage a person, governing board, or legislative body having the control of the property in which a vending facility is operated to request the removal of a licensee.

(d) Each license shall be issued for an indefinite period. A license may be terminated by the department for good cause but only after providing the licensee an opportunity for a full and fair hearing in accordance with the provisions of this article. The removal of a licensee upon the request of the person, governing board, or legislative body having the care, custody and control of the property in which a vending facility is operated shall not require a finding of ineligibility for licensing.

(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1316, Sec. 8.)