ARTICLE 1. Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation [28106. - 28111.]

Cal. Financial Code - FIN 1.

in effect

Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 28106. Section 28106.

(a) The commissioner shall administer the provisions of this division and may promulgate rules and regulations and issue orders consistent with that authority. (b) Without limitation, the functions, powers, and duties of the commissioner include all of the following: (1) To issue or refuse to issue a license as provided by this division. (2) To revoke or suspend for cause any license as provided by this division. (3) To keep records of licenses issued under this division. (4) To receive, consider, investigate, and act upon complaints made in connection with a licensee. (5) To prescribe the forms of and receive (A) applications for licenses and (B) reports, books, and records required to be made by a licensee under this division, including annual audited financial statements. (6) To subpoena documents and witnesses and compel their attendance and production, to administer oaths, and to require the production of books, papers, or other materials relevant to any inquiry authorized by this division. (7) To require information with regard to an applicant that the commissioner may deem necessary, with regard for the paramount public interest in ascertaining the experience, background, honesty, truthfulness, integrity, and competency of an applicant for servicing student loans, and if an applicant is an entity other than an individual, in ascertaining the honesty, truthfulness, integrity, and competency of officers, directors, or managing members of the corporation, association, or other entity, or the general partners of a partnership. (8) To enforce by order any provision of this division. (9) To levy fees, fines, and charges in an amount sufficient to cover the cost of the services performed in administering this division. (10) To appoint examiners, attorneys, supervisors, experts, and special assistants as needed to effectively and efficiently administer this division.

Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 28108. Section 28108.

(a) The commissioner shall have the authority to conduct investigations and examinations of an applicant or licensee as follows: (1) For purposes of determining whether an applicant is eligible for a license, or that a licensee is complying with the provisions of this division or any regulation or order of the commissioner, the commissioner may access, receive, and use any books, accounts, records, files, documents, information, or evidence, including, but not limited to, any of the following relating to the intent to, or the practice of, servicing student loans for borrowers: (A) Criminal, civil, and administrative history information. (B) Personal history and experience information, including, but not limited to, independent credit reports obtained from a consumer reporting agency. (C) Any other documents, information, or evidence that the commissioner deems relevant to the inquiry or investigation regardless of the location, possession, control, or custody of those documents, information, or evidence. (2) For the purposes of investigating violations or complaints arising under this division, the commissioner may direct, subpoena, or order the attendance of, and examine under oath, any person whose testimony may be required about the student loan or account of the borrower. (b) In making any examination or investigation authorized by this section, the commissioner may control access to any documents and records of the licensee or person under examination or investigation. The commissioner may take possession of the documents and records or place a person in exclusive charge of the documents and records in the place where they are usually kept. During the period of control, no person shall remove or attempt to remove any of the documents and records except pursuant to a court order or with the consent of the commissioner. Unless the commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe the documents or records of a licensee have been, or are at risk of being, altered or destroyed for purposes of concealing a violation of this division, the licensee or owner of the documents and records shall have access to the documents or records as necessary to conduct its ordinary business affairs.

Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 28110. Section 28110.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the commissioner may by rule or order prescribe circumstances under which to accept electronic records or electronic signatures. This section shall not be deemed to require the commissioner to accept electronic records or electronic signatures. (b) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) “Electronic record” means an initial license application, or material modification of that license application, and any other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means. “Electronic records” also includes, but is not limited to, all of the following: (A) An application, amendment, supplement, and exhibit, filed for any license, consent, or other authority. (B) A financial statement, report, or advertising. (C) A surety bond, rider, or endorsement thereto. (D) An order, license, consent, or other authority. (E) A notice of public hearing, accusation, and statement of issues in connection with any application, license, consent, or other authority. (F) A proposed decision of a hearing officer and a decision of the commissioner. (G) The transcripts of a hearing and correspondence between a party and the commissioner directly relating to the record. (H) A release, newsletter, interpretive opinion, determination, or specific ruling. (I) Correspondence between a party and the commissioner directly relating to any document listed in subparagraphs (A) to (H), inclusive. (2) “Electronic signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with an electronic record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the electronic record. (c) The Legislature finds and declares that the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation has continuously implemented methods to accept records filed electronically, and is encouraged to continue to expand its use of electronic filings to the extent feasible, as budget, resources, and equipment are made available to accomplish that goal.

Cal. Financial Code - FIN § 28111. Section 28111.

(a) The commissioner may require an applicant for a student loan servicer license or a student loan servicer licensee to make some or all of the filings with the commissioner through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System & Registry. (b) The commissioner may require an application to be made through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System & Registry, and may require fees, fingerprints, financial statements, supporting documents, changes of address, and any other information, and amendments or modifications thereto, to be submitted by applicants and licensees through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System & Registry. (c) The commissioner may require licensees to pay assessments through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System & Registry.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026