5560-5590
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE
SECTION 5560-5590
5560. The board may upon its own motion, and shall upon the verified complaint in writing of any person, investigate the actions of any architect and may temporarily suspend or permanently revoke, the license of any architect who is guilty of, or commits one or more of, the acts or omissions constituting grounds for disciplinary action under this chapter. 5561. All accusations against licensees charging the holder of a license issued under this chapter with the commission of any act constituting a cause for disciplinary action shall be filed with the board within five years after the board discovers, or through the use of reasonable diligence should have discovered, the act or omission alleged as the ground for disciplinary action, whichever occurs first, but not more than 10 years after the act or omission alleged as the ground for disciplinary action. However, with respect to an accusation alleging a violation of Section 5579, the accusation may be filed within three years after the discovery by the board of the alleged facts constituting the fraud or misrepresentation prohibited by Section 5579. 5561.5. The proceedings for the suspension or revocation of licenses under this article shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the board shall have all the powers granted therein. 5565. The decision may: (a) Provide for the immediate complete suspension by the holder of the license of all operations as an architect during the period fixed by the decision. (b) Permit the holder of the license to complete any or all contracts for the performance of architectural services shown by evidence taken at the hearing to be then unfinished. (c) Impose upon the holder of the license compliance with any specific conditions as may be just in connection with his or her operations as an architect disclosed at the hearing, and may further provide that until those conditions are complied with no application for restoration of the suspended or revoked license shall be accepted by the board. (d) Assess a fine not in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) against the holder of a license for any of the causes specified in Section 5577. A fine may be assessed in lieu of, or in addition to, a suspension or revocation. All fines collected pursuant to this subdivision shall be deposited to the credit of the California Architects Board Fund. 5570. In any proceeding for review by a court, the court may, in its discretion, upon the filing of a proper bond by the holder of the license in an amount to be fixed by the court, guaranteeing the compliance by the holder of the license with specific conditions imposed upon him or her by the board's decision, if any, permit the holder of the license to continue to practice as an architect pending entry of judgment by the court in the case. There shall be no stay of the board's decision pending an appeal or review of any proceeding unless the appellant or applicant for review shall file a bond in all respects conditioned as, and similar to, the bond required to stay the effect of the board's decision in the first instance. 5571. A judgment of suspension or cancellation of a certificate by the superior court shall be subject to appeal or review in accordance with the provisions of law as to appeal from or review of judgments of superior courts. There shall be no stay of execution or enforcement of the judgment pending any proceedings on appeal or review unless the appellant or applicant for review shall file a bond in all respects conditioned as, and similar to, the bond required to stay the effect of the board' s decision in the first instance. The clerk of the court whose judgment has become final shall, within 10 days after its entry, transmit, by regular United States mail, to the executive officer of the board a notice containing information as to the affirmance, modification, or reversal of the judgment of the superior court in the matter. 5573. After suspension of a license upon any of the grounds set forth in this chapter, the board may reinstate the license upon proof of compliance by the architect with all provisions of the decision as to reinstatement or, in the absence of that decision or any provisions therein as to reinstatement, in the sound discretion of the board. A license which has been suspended is subject to expiration and shall be renewed as provided in this chapter, but that renewal does not entitle the holder of the license, while the license remains suspended and until it is reinstated, to practice architecture, or to engage in any other activity or conduct in violation of the order or judgment by which the license was suspended. A revoked license is subject to expiration as provided in this chapter, but it may not be renewed. If it is reinstated after its expiration, the holder of the license, as a condition precedent to its reinstatement, shall pay a reinstatement fee in an amount equal to the renewal fee in effect on the last regular renewal date before the date on which it is reinstated, plus the delinquency fee, if any, accrued at the time of its revocation. 5577. The conviction of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of an architect by the holder of a license constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. The record of conviction, or a certified copy thereof certified by the clerk of the court or by the judge in whose court the conviction is obtained, is conclusive evidence of the conviction. A plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere is deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of this section. The board may order the license suspended or revoked, or may decline to issue a license, when the time for appeal has elapsed, the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal, or 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 allowing the person to withdraw his or her plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation, information, or indictment. 5578. The fact that the holder of a license is practicing in violation of the provisions of this chapter constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. 5579. The fact that the holder of a license has obtained the license by fraud or misrepresentation, or that the person named in the license has obtained it by fraud or misrepresentation constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. 5580. The fact that the holder of a license is impersonating an architect or former architect of the same or similar name, or is practicing under an assumed, fictitious, or corporate name, constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. 5582. The fact that the holder of a license has aided or abetted in the practice of architecture any person not authorized to practice architecture under the provisions of this chapter, constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. 5582.1. (a) The fact that the holder of a license has affixed his or her signature to plans, drawings, specifications, or other instruments of service which have not been prepared by him or her, or under his or her responsible control, constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. (b) The fact that the holder of a license has permitted his or her name to be used for the purpose of assisting any person to evade the provisions of this chapter constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. 5583. The fact that, in the practice of architecture, the holder of a license has been guilty of fraud or deceit constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. 5584. The fact that, in the practice of architecture, the holder of a license has been guilty of negligence or willful misconduct constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. 5585. The fact that in the practice of architecture the holder of a license has been guilty of incompetency or recklessness constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. 5586. The fact that the holder of a license has had disciplinary action taken by any public agency for any act substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties as an architect constitutes a ground for disciplinary action. 5588. (a) A licensee shall report to the board in writing within 30 days of the date the licensee has knowledge of any civil action judgment, settlement, arbitration award, or administrative action resulting in a judgment, settlement, or arbitration award against the licensee in any action alleging fraud, deceit, negligence, incompetence, or recklessness by the licensee in the practice of architecture if the amount or value of the judgment, settlement, or arbitration award is five thousand dollars ($5,000) or greater. (b) The report required by subdivision (a) shall be signed by the licensee and shall set forth the facts that constitute the reportable event. If the reportable event involves the action of an administrative agency or court, the report shall set forth all of the following: (1) The title of the matter. (2) The court or agency name. (3) The docket number. (4) The claim or file number. (5) The date on which the reportable event occurred. (c) A licensee shall promptly respond to oral or written inquiries from the board concerning the reportable events, including inquiries made by the board in conjunction with license renewal. (d) Failure of a licensee to report to the board in the time and manner required by this section shall be grounds for disciplinary action. (e) Any licensee who fails to comply with this section may be subject to a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) as an additional intermediate sanction imposed by the board in lieu of revoking the licensee's license. Any licensee who knowingly and intentionally fails to comply with this section may be subject to a civil penalty of up to twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) as an additional intermediate sanction imposed by the board in lieu of revoking the licensee's license. 5588.1. (a) Within 30 days of payment of all or any portion of a civil action judgment, settlement, or arbitration award described in Section 5588 against a licensee of the board in which the amount or value of the judgment, settlement, or arbitration award is five thousand dollars ($5,000) or greater, any insurer providing professional liability insurance to that licensee or architectural entity shall report to the board all of the following: (1) The name of the licensee. (2) The claim or file number. (3) The amount or value of the judgment, settlement, or arbitration award. (4) The amount paid by the insurer. (5) The identity of the payee. (b) Within 30 days of payment of all or any portion of any civil action judgment, settlement, or arbitration award described in Section 5588 against a licensee of the board in which the amount or value of the judgment, settlement, or arbitration award is five thousand dollars ($5,000) or greater, any state or local governmental agency that self insures that licensee shall report to the board all of the following: (1) The name of the licensee. (2) The claim or file number. (3) The amount or value of the judgment, settlement, or arbitration award. (4) The amount paid. (5) The identity of the payee. 5588.2. The requirements of Section 5588 and 5588.1 shall apply if a party to the civil action, settlement, arbitration award, or administrative action is or was a sole proprietorship, partnership, firm, corporation, or state or local governmental agency in which a licensee is or was an owner, partner, member, officer, or employee and is or was a licensee in responsible control of that portion of the project that was the subject of the civil judgment, settlement, arbitration award, or administrative action. 5588.3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a licensee shall not be considered to have violated a confidential settlement agreement or other confidential agreement by providing a report to the board as required by this article. 5588.4. The board may adopt regulations to further define the reporting requirements of Sections 5588 and 5588.1. 5590. Within 10 days after a judgment by a court of this state that a license holder has committed a crime or is liable for any death, personal or property injury, or loss caused by the license holder's fraud, deceit, negligence, incompetency, or recklessness in practice, the clerk of the court which rendered the judgment shall report that fact to the board. However, if the judge who tried the matter finds that it does not relate to the defendant's professional competence or integrity, the judge may, by order, dispense with the requirement that the report be sent.